OSHA Inspection: SEARS AUTOMOTIVE CENTER

Issued

Dec 4, 1998

Abate by

Jan 6, 1999

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $975 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employmnent 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: In Sears Automotive Shop in Hudson Valley Mall in
Poughkeepsie,N.Y.
Employees were exposed to crushing injuries from dropping rotary lifts
while working under
vehicles on the lifts. Safety locking devices (dogs) were provided on all
13 lifts but 5 of the lifts
safety latches were not operational.
a)Sears Automotive Shop: the safety latches on 5 of the rotary automotive
car lifts
were not operable.
Feasible and acceptable methods among others to correct the hazard as
noted in
the (ANSI) standard B153.1-1990 are to:
a)Repair or replace all automotive mechanical safety locking devices for
automotive
lifts as per ANSI B153.1 section 4.1.11.
b)Instruct and train all employees in the proper use of mechanical safety
locking
devices for hydraulic lifts as ANSI B153.1 section 7.2.2.
c)Conduct periodic inspections of the lifts as recommended by the lift
manufacturer
to insure that the safety locking devices and all components are in safe
operation
condition as per ANSI B153.1 section 7.3.
ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED.