OSHA Inspection: RENTAL UNIFORM SERVICE OF SAN ANTONIO, INC

Issued

Apr 14, 2000

Abate by

Jun 1, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $900 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:
a) Loads of laundry and hardware (trolley) falling from the rail system in
the wash deck
area.  The transfer rail used to raise and lower the trolley was not
equipped with a safety
mechanism to prevent the rail from descending before the previous trolley
had passed the
connection point.
Abatement Note:
Means of feasible abatement include, but may not be limited to, installing
optical sensors which
detect the position of a trolley to ensure it passes the connection point
before allowing the
transfer rail to disengage; or, installing a mechanical switch on the
control pendant which  the
operator must push and hold to release the trolley.  These are the two
methods already in use
at the facility's other transfer points.