OSHA Inspection: BAXTER & SONS ELEVATOR COMPANY

Issued

Oct 8, 1999

Abate by

Apr 15, 1999

Penalty

Initial $4,900

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: struck-by and fall
hazards posed by the condition of the elevators.
(a)At the Wilson Building, 1623 Main, Dallas, Texas where the
elevators used to transport employees to the various floors of the
building  failed to meet minimal safety requirements imposed for
state licensing.  Specific deficiencies included:
(1)the brakes on elevator #2 were faulty and in fact
failed while the elevator car was occupied.
(2)the vision panels in hoistway doors were
inadequately covered, permitting employees to
insert hands , arms and heads into the hoistway
while cars were in travel.
(3)the car doors were not equipped with functioning
interlocks to assure the car could not move from a
landing without the car door closed.
(4)appropriate travel control devices, such as a car
buffer, were not in the pit of elevator #1 for all
periods that the elevator was available for operation
and employees were working in the pit area. (Note
that while employees were in the zone of car travel
and the buffer was not in place, alternate protection
through use of a lockout/tagout system was also not
in place.)
Methods of feasible abatement include, but are not limited to:
(1)Repair or replace the elevators such that they meet
all state licensing requirements (Texas Department
of Licensing and Regulation as required by Chapter
754, Texas Health and Safety Codes, Elevators,
Escalators, and Related Equipment).
(2)Perform and document Qualified Elevator Inspector
(QEI) inspections as required by Section
754.019/ASME 17.1 1000.16 prior to putting the
elevators back into service.
(3) Develop, communicate and implement a system by
which equipment deficiencies are identified, withthose causing failure to
meet minimal safety
requirements resulting in a stoppage of elevator use
and where all applicable employers are notified of
the need to keep the elevator out of use until
corrective action is completed.  The inspections
must be made at intervals no longer than 3 months,
as required by  ANSI A 17.1-1996, Part XIX,
Section 1011, Rule 1011.1.
(4)Post load ratings in elevator cars, as required by
1926.552(a)(2).
(5)Inspect and ensure that all vision panels in hoistway
doors are covered by protective grills having
openings no wider than 3/4 inch or of 3/4 inch
diameter, secured by non-reversible screws or other
tamper-proof fasteners, as required by Part XIX of
ANSI A-17.1, 1996, Section 1900.6c(1) and Rule
110.7a, paragraphs 8(a), (b) and (c).

Issued

Oct 8, 1999

Abate by

Oct 14, 1999

Issued

Oct 8, 1999

Abate by

Oct 28, 1999

Penalty

Initial $4,500

Issued

Oct 8, 1999

Abate by

Oct 28, 1999

Penalty

Initial $1,400