Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 002A Hazard: LIFTING

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employmnent 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 multiple broken bones and/or death from a serious fall while being elevated on the suspended forks of the Hubtex side-loader. a) On or about 11/15/06, order pullers, were routinely lifted up on the forks of the Hubtex, approximately 20-feet high, in order to retrieve steel. The forks of the Hubtex, used to lift Order Pullers in Bay 300, did not conform with 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-foot fall hazard when lifted on the fork(s) of the Hubtex. 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 the Hubtex is used to retrieve and lower material, thus eliminating the need for other employees to be raised up to the various rack levels. Abatement Certification required.