OSHA Inspection: JAZZ INDUSTRIES OF FLORIDA

Issued

1996-11-26 00:00:00

Abate by

1996-12-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
a.)Norfolk International Terminal (N.I.T.), Warehouse 4,
doorway 4H.  The employer did not furnish employment and
a place of employment which was free from recognized
hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or
serious physical harm to employees; in that employees
operating power industrial trucks (cargo handling
equipment) equipped with seat belts, were not required to
wear seat belts during operation, exposing employees to
serious injury and recognized hazards should the
equipment tip over.
An employee operating a Hyster "Challenger" Model H60XL,
Serial Number C177B4899M, 6,000 lbs. capacity, N.I.T.
#710, manufactured in 1991, equipped with a seat belt and
hip restraint system, was seriously injured when the
forklift truck was driven off a ramp.  Injuries were
sustained when the employee landed on the ground after
jumping or was thrown from the forklift truck.  The
employee was not wearing a seat belt during the operation
of the equipment.
This requirement is referenced in the consensus standard,
ASME/ANSI B56.1d-1992 Addenda to ASME/ANSI B56.1-1988,
Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift Trucks",
section 5.3.19, page 10.1, which states "an active
operator protection device or system, when provided,
shall be used.  In addition, the forklift truck
manufacturer, Hyster, states in their Operating Manual,
page 8, section on Operator Protection Equipment; the
seat belt and restraint bracket provide additional means
to help the operator keep the head and torso
substantially within the confines of the lift truck frame
and overhead guard is a tip over occurs.  The hip
restraint bracket will help the operator resist side
movement if the seat belt is not fastened.  It is not a
substitute for the seat belt.  Always fasten the seat
belt."
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE
ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO REQUIRE
EMPLOYEES TO WEAR SEAT BELTS DURING THE OPERATION OF
POWERED INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS.