OSHA Inspection: GRIMCO

Issued

2017-08-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-09-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5432.00 · Current $3802.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(ii)(E): Refresher training was not provided to forklift operators after a condition changed that affected safe operation of the truck:  On the evening of July 13, 2017, during a power outage, employees were required to operate powered industrial trucks without normal warehouse lighting and without providing guidance and training on how operation was to continue when unique hazards were introduced including:  1. Where generator lighting was not available for all areas.  Employees used cell phone lighting to attempt to aid in lighting but it was insufficient.  Driving into building C was more hazardous.  A forklift was only later moved to building C to provide the forklift lights for an aisle.    2. There was close operation to the pickers in building E and the forklift operators had to drive in reverse at times close to the pickers.  Driving in reverse at any time in the dark was unsafe.    3. Twelve or 14 ft posts had to be lifted up to clear some aisles, which even in the light which was said to be hazardous, but in a dark warehouse it was said to be much more hazardous.    4. Because of the extended outage, emergency lighting went out which contributed to less available lighting.    5. At corners there was no lighting, and a pedestrian could have been struck.  There were no spotters made for all operators.  One operator turned a corner where there was an employee standing.    6. It was much more difficult trying to watch out for pedestrians in the dark.    7.  Material was not always able to be seen on the racking, especially at a high elevation, so that removal was especially hazardous.  (Racking was three levels high and the ceiling height was approximately 20 ft.)  Abatement documentation is required for this violation.