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

Section 5(a)(1) of Public Law 91-596, 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 loads being dropped due to the rated loads of "Below-the-Hook" Lifting Devices not being clearly displayed on the device(s). (a)Production Area, Bays #2, #3 & #4 - There were no rated load markings visible on the main structure of, nor any identification plates which list: 1. manufacturer's name and address, 2. serial number, 3. lifter weight (if over 100 lbs), 4. rated load, on the three (3) "homemade" spreader beams, each having 7 pairs of hooks which were in use in Bays #2, #3 & #4. Reference Section 20-1.2.1(a) & (b) of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers safety standard for Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices, ASME B30.20a-1996. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to: 1. Stencil a clearly visible load rating on each spreader beam(s), and 2. affix an identification plate to each spreader beam(s) which includes the information required in points 1-4 above.