OSHA Inspection: OTIS ELEVATOR, INC.

Issued

Dec 12, 2001

Abate by

Dec 29, 2001

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

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 hazard of being struck by the counterweight or crushed between the
working platform
(including its associated structures) and the "overhead" in the event of
an overspeed condition
during the construction of Elevator #4 at St. Patricks Hospital at 501
Owens Street in
Missoula, Montana.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct this
hazard are;
1. Establish a guide rope connection method sufficient to adequately
control the
counterweight such as:
a. Develop tensioning requirements for the guide ropes and provide the
necessary tools to
measure, adjust, and re-adjust the tension.
b. Use more robust turnbuckles.
c. Install an additional counterweight guide in the area of the pit.
d. Develop a method of warning the employees that the counterweight is
approaching the
work platform.
2. Take necessary precautions to prevent a fall-up or fall-down of the
working platform such
as:
a. Install a 'trip wire' in the overhead, wired in the elevator safety
circuit such that opening
the elevator safety circuit will stop the working platform before it can
contact the overhead.
b. Rope the car with longer than required ropes (GEM/MVS page 23).
c. Use a re-calibration "kit" to temporarily lower the governor electrical
trip to a maximum
of 175 feet per minute.  Alternatively, use a 'construction governor'
specifically for this
purpose.
d. Include a brake test in the process to ensure that brakes are working
properly.
e. To ensure that the weight of the elevator is always more than the
weight of the
counterweight as shown in the GEM/MVS manual on page 27, correct the
inconsistency in
the manual on page 26 that, if followed, allows the elevator car to weigh
500 pounds less
than the counterweight.
3. Update the process manuals maintained on the job site to reflect the
most current
construction methods and ensure that employees are trained and supervised
to use the propermethods.
4. Develop a checklist to ensure that critical construction items are not
missed
or forgotten.
5. Install a long bolt in a fish plate hole, facing the elevator, at the
top of both rail ends until
it's time to install the next rail above to prevent the working platform
from coming off the
rails.
6. Install unintended movement protection such as the Hollister-Whitney
Rope Gripper,
activated by the elevator safety circuit to prevent the working platform
from moving at a
time when employees expect it to be stationary.
7. Update the construction process to include removal of the lubricious
protective covering of
the rails so that the car safety device will not fail to lock on the rail.
__ Abatement certification or documentation is NOT required for this item.
x_ Abatement certification is required for this item.
__ Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item.
__ Warning tag (or citation copy) required on this equipment before
moving.