Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: LIFTING

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to death and serious injuries from a substandard suspended unguarded platform: a) On or about February 26, 2008, employees, with no fall protection, were lifted up on a wooden pallet of the forklift, approximately 20 to 25-feet high, in order to hang the plastic tarp, to keep over spray off the lights and building structure, in the paint booths. The wood pallet did not conform to the American National Standard ITSDF B56.1-2005, Safety Standard for Low and High Lift Trucks; section 4.17, Elevating Personnel, Only operator-up high lift trucks have been designed to lift personnel. If a work platform is used on trucks designed and intended for handling materials, the requirements in paragraph 4.17.2 and 4.17.3 shall be met for lifting personnel. Employees were exposed to a 20-25 foot fall hazard when lifted on the pallet, on the fork(s) of the forklift. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to correct this hazard would be to: follow guidelines listed in ITSDF B56.1-2005, use a device that has been designed to lift personnel with an approved work platform or ensure that employees use an appropriate ladder or scissor lift. Abatement Certification and Abatement Documentation required.tion