September 17, 2004—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released three new publications to highlight specific workplace hazards.
A new Safety and Health Bulletin on Hazards of Improper Elevator Controller Wiring outlines recommendations regarding proper maintenance and wiring procedures, and identifies potential hazards associated with elevators. The bulletin resulted from the investigation of a worker fatality in Texas caused by the improper wiring of an elevator controller panel that allowed the elevator to move with the doors in an open position.
The risk of injury or death from hydraulic excavators with quick coupling devices is the reason behind the bulletin Hazards of Unintended Release of Buckets from Quick Couplers on Hydraulic Excavators. Since 1998, 15 incidents of the release of buckets have resulted in the deaths of eight workers. The bulletin alerts workers and employers about this hazard, describes a recent accident investigated by OSHA in Wisconsin, and offers detailed actions and safety measures to prevent such accidents.
