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 the hazard of being crushed, struck or pinned by a falling automobile(s): On or about 11/09/2007 Location: Automotive repair shop, 75 Vredenburg Ave. Yonkers NY. 1) Employees operated lifts with swing arm safety locks and lift pads that were broken and/or did not operate on the following automotive lifts. a) Lift #1 Benwil, left front arm had no anti slip pad, left rear arm not connected, right rear arm not connected/pin broken b) Lift #4 Benwil BW-7 SN D931377, right rear arm not connected, left front arm missing anti slip pad c) Lift #8 Benwil BW-7 SN B931304, right front arm had no anti slip pad, left front arm had a worn anti slip pad, right rear arm had no anti slip pad and the locking arm was not connected, left rear arm was not connected. d) Lift #9 Benwil BW-7 SN C931344 right rear arm not connected, left front arm not connected, left rear arm not connected e) Lift #11 Benwil BW-7 SN 979877 left rear arm not connected f) Lift #13 Benwil GP-7 SN 907 right rear arm not connected g) Lift #14 Maxim MX-012 SN 12K41207 right front arm had no anti slip pad h) Lift #15 Benwil BW-7 SN A950249, right rear arm not connected, right front arm had no anti slip pad i) Lift #17 Benwil BW-7 SN I941090, left rear arm not connected, right rear arm not connected. 2) Employees operated the following defective lifts. a) Lift #14 Maxim MX-012 SN 12K41207 was missing a floor anchor bolt on the left lift tower and had another loose floor anchor bolt on the left lift tower. b) Lift # 12 Maxim ramp type lift had cardboard wedged in the safety interlock to override it. 3) Lifts were not inspected and maintained by the employer as required by the manufactures owners manual. 4) The employees were not trained in the proper use and safe operation of automotive lifts and the safety features of the lift, operating and safety instructions and/or manuals were not available to the employees and/or posted. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS: 1) Follow the service, maintenance and operating requirements as per the manufactures instructions stated on Page 1 Warning Item 9 "Perform scheduled maintenance and inspections as required, and replace damaged or worn parts" Page 1 Warning Item 16 "Do not operate lift if any safety devices are inoperative" Page 2 Warning Item 18 " Inspect your lift daily. Never operate if it malfunctions or if it has broken or damaged parts"Page 4 Operations " Warning do not raise vehicle until all four swing arms are locked" Page 6 Monthly Service "Swing arm positioning lock bars should be checked for proper operation and function. Damaged or worn parts must be replaced immediately." Page 8 Service Three Months " Overall visual inspection should include the basic lift structure and the lift arms. Arms should telescope freely and swing easily. If any parts are worn or damaged replace immediately. Make inspection more often than every three months if the lift is subjected to constant use." 2) Instruct and retrain the employees in the proper use of the manufactures procedures for the safe operation of automotive lifts, including use of all safety features of the automotive lifts. Enforce the proper use of all safety features. 3) Obtain and display the manufactures operating instructions. Implement a safety program that ensures that the safety requirements of the following publications are followed. i) The ANSI/ALI standard ALOIM-2000 (Standard for Automotive Lifts - Safety Requirements for Operation, Inspection and Maintenance.) which includes the following. 4.2.2: "ANSI/ALI B153.1-1990 requires the lift manufacturer to supply operating instructions, general safety information, safety tips, and warning labels with each lift manufactured. The owner or employer shall display these materials in a conspicuous location in the lift area." 4.3: "Operator Training Documentation. The owner or employer shall appropriately document operator training by completing the operator training log found in the appendix to this standard." 4.4.2: "The operator shall use all applicable safety features provided on the automotive lift, and operate in accordance with the instructions furnished by the lift manufacturer. 4.4.4: "The lift owner or employer shall take all appropriate steps to follow the recommended inspection procedures of the lift manufacturer, but in no event shall the lift operator fail to inspect or take notice of the following features on a daily basis: 1) accessibility and readability of the operating procedures, safety tips and generic safety material; 2) accessibility and readability of safety warning labels; 4) proper operation of the lift controls, restraints and locking device " 7) damage or excessive wear on any of the lift contact points which engage the vehicle during lifting. 5.1: "The owner or employer shall establish a periodic inspection procedure in accordance with the recommendations of the lift manufacturer in order to assure the continued safe operation of the lift." 6.1.1: " The owner or employer shall establish a periodic preventive maintenance procedure in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer in order to ensure the continued safe operation of the lift. 6.2.4: "A thorough record of each repair maintenance procedure performed shall be prepared and maintained by the owner or employer." d) Follow the Automotive Lift Institute publication "Lifting it Right", which includes the following. Page 9: "Do not operate a damaged lift."Page 11: "If any part of the lift is damaged or not operating properly, do not use the lift or attempt to fix it." NOTE: In addition to abatement certification, the employer is required to submit abatement documentation for this item in accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19.ce