OSHA Inspection: SME STEEL CONTRACTORS, INC.

Issued

Aug 25, 2008

Abate by

Sep 2, 2008

Penalty

Initial $3,150

General-duty citation text

Nevada Revised Statute 618.375(1):  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:
The employer failed to ensure that the place of employment was free from
recognized hazards
in that:
At Level 2 of the West/East Podium, City Center construction site, a crew
of ironworkers and
a Foreman were tasked to bolt in 22 steel embed plates to install another
floor.  Employee #1
and #2 were working from a scissorlift (lift) at a height of approximately
26 feet and had been
using a drill to make holes in the concrete beams and columns prior to
bolting in the embed
plates.  The drill had been plugged into a yellow extension cord that was
tied to the top rail of
the scissorlift which extended from the lift to the concrete floor and
across to a spider box
located approximately 30 feet away.  At approximately 1330 hrs., having
completed
the last
holes, Employee #1 boomed down to Level 1 and the Foreman delivered a
steel embed plate into
the lift with a forklift.  The Foreman and Employee #3 met Employee #1 and
#2 back up at
Level 2 to decide what equipment would be needed to hold the steel embed
plates in place while
the expandable bolts were put in.  At approximately 1400 hrs., the Foreman
and Employee #3
went down to Level 1 to obtain the equipment needed and to retrieve
another steel embed plate.
The Foreman backed the forklift away from the lift, made a "Y" turn and
proceeded forward
towards the pallets of steel embed plates.  The Foreman heard Employee #1
and #2 shouting,
turned his head to look behind him and saw the lift falling over to the
concrete floor.  Employee
#3 turned around and saw that the yellow extension cord was tangled up in
one of the forklift
wheels.  As a result, Employee #1 and #2 rode the lift to the ground,
sustained numerous serious
injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital:
a.The employee and foreman were not aware of the restrictions of not
attaching
items to the platform / guardrails or of coiling up and stowing electrical
cords and
hoses when not in use.  A yellow extension cord was tied to the top rail
of the
guardrail as well as an air compressor hose and were not coiled up and
stowed
away until needed.
Reference: Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Aerial Platform, Safety
Manual for Operating and Maintenance Personnel, copyright 1989, revised
6/95,
2/02, manual located in the scissorlift at the time of the accident
investigation:
Page 32 -Raise and Lower Safety (cont'd.), "WARNING:  Never
attach wire, cable or similar items to the platform.
Should they tangle or catch on a fixed object, your machine
could tip over."
Page 33 -Work Safely, "When the platform has been raised into the
working position, be extremely cautious to prevent any
object from striking or interfering with the operating
controls.  Secure all tools, equipment or other materials
place on the platform to keep them from shifting or falling. Keep ropes,
electrical cords and hoses coiled and stowed
away when not in use."
One feasible means of abatement would be to ensure that all scissorlift
operators and
employer representatives read and understand the Association of Equipment
Manufacturers, Aerial Platform Safety Manual for Operating and Maintenance
Personnel
normally located in the scissorlift and was to be read prior to operation
as well as the
Genie Scissorlift manual and ANSI A92.6, Self-Propelled Elevating Work
Platforms.

Issued

Aug 25, 2008

Abate by

Aug 28, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,800

Issued

Aug 25, 2008

Abate by

Sep 2, 2008

Penalty

Initial $900