Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: FALLING

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 falling in the freight elevator shaftway due to the fact that the hoistway door interlocks were inoperative as a result of being bypassed: Location: 12-38 Hall Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. On or about June 25, 2001 a)Building 2: Small Freight Elevator - An employee fell to his death through the elevator shaftway which was not guarded,from the 6th floor to the top of the elevator cab located on the 3rd floor. 1.Interior of the elevator: The rear/back gate switch was blocked with a piece of wood and the front gate switch was duct-taped closed so that the elevator could operator/run with the doors in the open position. 2.Elevator room: A clip jumper was attached to the terminals on the control which allowed the hoistway door interlocks to be jumped and/or the doors of the elevator to be in the open position while the elevator was running. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to comply with the American National Standard Safety Code for Elevator Dumbwaiters Escalators and Moving Walks stipulated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) - ANSI A17.1971. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement to correct the hazard, are, but not limited to the following: 1.Section 1002 - Maintenance, Rule 1002.4 - Making Safety Devices Inoperative: No person shall at any time make any required safety device or electrical protective device inoperative, except where necessary during tests, inspections, and maintenance, such devices shall be restored to their normal operating condition in conformity with the applicable requirements (See Rule 210.7). 2.Inspect all elevators interlocks and/or gate switches on a daily basis for material, devices or objects used to bypass the interlocks and remove items found. 3. Instruct Employees on the dangers of bypassing the elevator interlocks. 4.Install and repair shaftway door interlocks/switches bypassed. 5.Enforce and comply with ANSI A17.1-1971 and/or ASME A17.3-1993,1996. NOTE: THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT VERIFICATION FOR THIS ITEM. FAILURE TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT VERIFICATION WILL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL $1000.00 PENALTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH 29 CFR 1903.19.