OSHA Inspection: WESTERN STEEL BUILDINGS

Issued

Jun 6, 2002

Abate by

Jun 11, 2002

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 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 the condition(s) listed below:
For the period of time up to and including 03/11/02, at the job-site of
Western Steel Buildings,
located 3 miles West on Highway 54 and 1 1/4 miles North of Littlefield,
TX 79339, employees
were exposed to the hazards of being struck-by a collapsing Bi-Fold door.
The conditions were
created when they operated the opening / closing push-button, remained
within close proximity
of the door, and a malfunctioning relay in the door raising and lowering
control panel allowed
the door to raise beyond the upper limit switch.  This further allowed the
door to strike / pull
against it's securing hardware (turnbuckles, eyelet hangers) and caused
the catastrophic failure
/ fall of the door, which resulted in the fatal injury of one employee.
Among others, some feasible and acceptable methods to correct these
hazards would be to:
1) Ensure the operational status of the Bi-Fold door and it's controls, by
establishing routine /
regular inspection and maintenance programs, and maintaining a service and
maintenance record
/ log accordingly. (i.e., Daily check list, Monthly Inspection /
Operational Test Log, Annual
Inspection / Service / Functional Test by certified / licensed / competent
outside authority).
2) Install constant pressure door operating controls, and locate them so
that employees will be
kept at a safe distance from potential struck-by hazards throughout the
Bi-Fold door opening /
closing cycles.
3) Ensure employees are trained in daily / prior-to-use Bi-Fold door
inspections, and safe door
use / operations, or replace the horizontal Bi-Fold door with a more
conventional type (sliding
/ vertically folding) door.

Issued

Jun 6, 2002

Abate by

Jun 11, 2002

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Jun 6, 2002

Abate by

Jun 11, 2002

Issued

Jun 6, 2002

Abate by

Jun 11, 2002