OSHA Inspection: ALMACENES PITUSA INC

Issued

Oct 19, 2004

Abate by

Nov 15, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Oct 19, 2004

Abate by

Oct 25, 2004

General-duty citation text

Section 6(a) of the Puerto Rico Occupational Safety and Health Act:  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 physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed
to:
Seccion 6(a) de la Ley de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo de Puerto Rico:
El patrono no proveyo
empleo y un sitio de empleo libre de riesgos reconocidos que esten
causando o que puedan causar
muerte o dano fisico a los empleados, por cuanto empleados estaban
expuestos a:
Falls from elevated wood pallets on forklift prongs.  Employees were using
two internal
combustion cushion tire lift trucks, trademark CAT, to lift employees on
wood pallets in
the warehouse central area.  These employees were not protected by
guardrails, other
physical barrier or personal fall arrest system.  When employees could not
reach the top
of the tiers they would use an elevated wood pallet to stack and/or remove
furniture from
tiers, these tiers ranged up to a height of 22 feet and 8 inches.  These
furniture are stacked
one on top of the other with an initial wood pallet at the base and no
other wood pallet or
other platform in between the stacked furniture.  The stacking method used
is for
employees to physically stack or remove the furniture from the tiers.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard
is for the employees to use the two stockpickers, trademark Crown, where
the employees
are required to physically stack and/or remove furniture at heights where
they can not
reach the top of the tiers, since this model has a platform and a personal
fall arrest system
for their protection.
Caidas de paletas de madera elevadas en las unas de montacargas.
Empleados estaban
usando dos vehiculos de combustion interna con llantas acojinadas, marca
CAT,
para
elevar empleados en paletas de madera en el area central del almacen.  Los
empleados no
estaban protegidos con barandas, otra barrera fisica o un sistema de
proteccion personal
contra caidas.  Cuando los empleados no alcanzaban el tope de las estivas
ellos usaban una
paleta de madera elevada apilar y/o remover muebles de la estiva, estas
alcanzaban hasta
una altura de 22 pies con 8 pulgadas.  Estos muebles son apilados un
encima del otro con
una paleta de madera inicial en la base y ninguna paleta de madera u otra
plataforma entre
los muebles apilados.  El metodo usado para apilar los muebles consiste en
que empleados
fisicamente apilen o remuevan los muebles de las estivas.
Entre otros metodos, un metodo factible y aceptable para corregir este
riesgo es de que los
empleados usen los dos montacargas tipo  stockpicker, marca Crown, donde
los
empleados se vean requerido de fisicamente apilar y/o remover muebles a
alturas donde
ellos no alcanzan el tope de la estivas, debido a que este modelo tiene
una
plataforma y
sistema de proteccion personal contra caida para su proteccion

Issued

Oct 19, 2004

Abate by

Oct 25, 2004

Issued

Oct 19, 2004

Abate by

Oct 25, 2004

Issued

Oct 19, 2004

Abate by

Oct 25, 2004

Issued

Oct 19, 2004

Abate by

Oct 25, 2004

Issued

Oct 19, 2004

Abate by

Oct 25, 2004

Issued

Oct 19, 2004

Abate by

Oct 25, 2004