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

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina: The employer did not furnish each of his employees conditions of employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to being struck by or crushed by automotive lifts: a)establishment, maintenance bay 2 - Rotary automotive lift, 9, 000 lbs capacity, SN P96B0059, was not maintained in a safe operating condition. Telescoping stops on the short swing arm on the left side were nonoperational. The arm came completely out of the lift system. The pads on the swing arms were not equipped with locking pins which allowed the pads to come apart and fall off the lift system. The swing arms were welded into place preventing proper locking. b)establishment, maintenance bay 3 - Rotary automotive lift, 9,000 lbs capacity, motor SN 41047, was not maintained in a safe operating condition. Long and short swing arms on both sides came completely out of the lift system. The swing arms were welded into place preventing proper locking. c)establishment, maintenance bay 4 - Rotary automotive lift, 9,000 lbs capacity, motor SN 41046, was not maintained in a safe operating condition. The short swing arm on the left side came completely out of the lift system. The swing arms were welded into place preventing proper locking. d)establishment, maintenance bay 5 - Rotary automotive lift, 9,000 lbs capacity, motor SN 41045, was not maintained in a safe operating condition. The short swing arm on the right side came completely out of the lift system. The swing arms were welded into place preventing proper locking. e)establishment, maintenance bay 6 - Hunter alignment lift, no serial number, was not marked with the maximum weight capacity. f)establishment, maintenance bay 1-5 - Rotary automotive lift had been altered without manufacturers' approval. The arms had been welded at the pivot point next to the posts. Tire Kingdom, Inc dba Merchants Tire & Auto Center was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standard (NCGS 95.129(1)) or its equivalent standard, which was contained in the OSH inspection number 311336887, Citation number 1, Item/Group number 1, issued on 08/22/2007. The final order date for this citation regarding automotive lifts was 09/25/07. Tire Kingdom, Inc dba Merchants Tire & Auto Center was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standard (NCGS 95.129(1)) or its equivalent standard, which was contained in the OSH inspection number 311941991, Citation 1, Item/Group number 1 issued on 08/28/2008. The final order date for this citation regarding automotive lifts was 10/20/08. Tire Kingdom, Inc dba Merchants Tire & Auto Center was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standard (NCGS 95.129(1)) or its equivalent standard, which was contained in the OSH inspection number 313597601, Citation 1, Item/Group number 1, issued on 10/05/2009. The final order date for this citation regarding automotive lifts was 12/02/09. Reference: ANSI/ALI ALOIM-2000; paragraphs: 4-4.6 - Operations 5-5.6.6 - Periodic Qualified Inspection 6-6.2.5 - Maintenance ABATEMENT NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to provide operator training, conduct periodic inspections and perform maintenance procedures.