OSHA Inspection: WAL-MART #326

Issued

Sep 10, 1991

Abate by

Mar 20, 1992

Penalty

Initial $12,500 · Current $6,250 Reduced

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 potential injury from crushing caused by the unexpected
lowering of lifts:
(a)  Highway 13 and 19th Street, Higginsville, Missouri, location,
in the TBA Auto Service Center.  The vehicle lifts were inspected
and found to be defective as follows:
(1)  Bay #1.  Vehicle lift safety latch was inoperative when
the lift was raised - the lift guide post, which actuates the
safety device, was not attached to the lift so that safety
latch was disabled.  In the event of loss of system pressure,
or accidental actuation of lift controls, lift could lower
onto employee working under vehicle supported by lift.
(2)  Bay #4.  Vehicle lift safety latch was inoperative when
the lift was raised - the safety latch was packed with grease
and debris so that safety latch was disabled.  In the event
of loss of system pressure, or accidental actuation of lift
controls, lift could lower onto employee working under
vehicle supported by lift.
While ultimate responsibility for correcting the hazard rests with
the employer, given his/her superior knowledge of the workplace,
feasible and acceptable methods to correct this hazard, among
others, are to repair safety devices on both lifts and to have
lifts inspected and maintained regularly in accordance with the
manufacturer's recommendations and ANSI/ALI B153.1-1990, Sections
4.1.11, 7.1.1, and 7.3, "American National Standard for Automotive
lifts - Safety Requirements for the Construction, Care and Use."
Essential elements would include:
(1)  Develop and implement a visual inspection on the vehicle
lifts to assure that they are in safe operating condition at
the beginning of each shift.
(2)  Develop and implement a periodic inspection in accor-
dance with the manufacturer's procedures and recommendations.
(3)  Develop and implement maintenance procedures in accor-
dance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
(4)  Prohibit use of defective lifts until repairs can be
completed.
WAL-MART was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational
Safety and Health standard or its equivalent standard which was con-
tained in OSHA inspection number 106637978, Citation Number 01, Item
Number 1, issued on MAY 13, 1991.

Issued

Sep 10, 1991

Abate by

Mar 20, 1992

Penalty

Initial $25,000 · Current $13,500 Reduced

Issued

Sep 10, 1991

Abate by

Mar 20, 1992

Issued

Sep 10, 1991

Abate by

Mar 20, 1992

Penalty

Initial $25,000

Issued

Sep 10, 1991

Abate by

Mar 20, 1992

Issued

Sep 10, 1991

Abate by

Mar 20, 1992

Penalty

Initial $25,000

Issued

Sep 10, 1991

Abate by

Mar 20, 1992

Issued

Sep 10, 1991

Abate by

Mar 20, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Sep 10, 1991

Abate by

Oct 25, 1991