OSHA Inspection: EVANS - MASON INC.

Issued

Nov 1, 1991

Abate by

Nov 4, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

General-duty citation text

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:
(a)  The hazards of falls from heights of twenty feet or more
likely to result in severe traumatic injuries (including
strains, concussions, broken bones, crushing and death) when
on May 21, 1991, Evans Mason, Inc. caused the American Eagle
Elevating Work Platform, located at 222 Merchandise Mart,
Chicago, Illinois  to fall while being disassembled.  the
deficiencies of the disassembly process include the following:
1.  The employer failed to follow the American Eagle Elevating
Work Platform operating manual(s) and other significant
documents that related to the safe used, assembly and disassemb-
ly of the American Eagle Elevating Work Platform.  The employer
failed to develop a step-by-step plan for the safe disassembly
of the platform.  The employer failed to train affected
employees in safe procedures and further failed to assure that
his designated representatives managed the tower disassembly
carefully and in accordance with the prepared plan.
2.  The employer did not adhere to the American Eagle Elevating
Work Platform manufacturer's safe operation, assembly and
disassembly procedure.  The employer had previously obtained
an approval for exemption from using the standard trailer mount
with stabilizing outriggers and pads from the platform dis-
tributor.  The exemption included using a crane to position and
hold the tower section in place, while it was connected to a
prepared concrete pad and until the tie assemblies were attached
between the tower and the building wall.  The manufacturer's
disassembly procedures that were not adhered to included:
(a)  A 390 lb. tower section and a large heavy tool box
were located on the west side of the work platform
causing an unbalanced load.
(b)  The work platform was not lowered to the ground
on solid supports, and the fifteen foot work platform
extenders were not unhooked from center twenty foot
wide work platform.  The built-up work platform was
fifty feet wide.
3.  The employer did not comply with the used agreement with
the owner and the distributor in that a crane was not used to
support the tower section prior to removing the last tie
assembly.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement
method to correct this hazard is to develop and utilize safe
engineered assembly and disassembly procedures when the
manufacturer's established procedures are not followed.  Train
all employees in the proceudres and fequently monitor the
process to indure that the procedures are being followed.

Issued

Nov 1, 1991

Abate by

Nov 7, 1991