OSHA Inspection: CIVIC STAGES CHICAGO

Issued

Jul 2, 1993

Abate by

Jul 8, 1993

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occuptional 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 of likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to:
(a) On or about 5/20/93, employees of Civic Stages Chicago working within
the Civic Opera House, 20 North Wacker Drive, were exposed to the hazards
associated with falling into an open elevator shaft dur to unsafe work
practices.  It is common practice for employees to open elevator dorrs
from the outside of the landing by inserting a tool (scrapers or screw
driver) between the doors and forceing the handle on the inside to release
and then open the doors in this manner by passing the elevator door locks.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to develope a safe work practice policy which
states
if the elevator car is not at the landing with the doors open you must
use the stairs. Under no circumstance open the door with a tool from the
outside. This policy must be in writing and all employees trained in it.