Safety Tidbits

Safety Tidbit 4.06 – Mobile Stairs

 

Reference:       OSHA 1910.23(e) Mobile Ladder Stands and Platforms

                       

OSHA defines a mobile ladder as “a mobile, fixed-height, self-supporting ladder that usually consists of wheels or casters on a rigid base and steps leading to a top step. A mobile ladder stand also may have handrails and is designed for use by one employee at a time.”

Mobile ladders are used to reach items at various heights and can be a couple of feet to more than 20 feet tall. Warehouses whether a dedicated warehouse or just the stock area of the company are common habitats for these convenient stairs. They are much more secure than ladders but do have the drawback of being fairly large and requiring their own space for storage. However, you see them in many places. I recently spotted on in Lowes. Well not really spotted so much as I could not get around it in the aisle that I was heading down. Interestingly, a Lowe’s Associate was getting ready to use the stair, so I stopped and let her get the item she wished and just watched her work (which as an IH you know I love to do!). 

She finished wheeling the mobile stair into position and ascended the mobile stair. She was retrieving an item from the top shelf about twelve feet up. As she climbed the stairs, they shifted slightly which made her grab the handrails to steady herself. Another associate that was helping her walked over and locked the caster wheels to keep it from moving. As she got all the way to the top (about 8 feet) and twisted to retrieve the item she was looking for off of the rack the stairs rocked slightly. This, again, caused the associate to grab the handrail to steady herself. Luckily, she had not yet retrieved the item and had both hands to steady herself. The second associate grabbed hold of the mobile stairs to steady it. The first associate pulled the item from the rack and then walked down the stairs with a box requiring both hands to carry and that she could not see around. Once successfully down both associates walked away leaving the mobile stairs there to be used again and never thinking about the close call the associate had with falling off the mobile stair. 

I walked over to the mobile stair once they departed. I looked it over and found that one of the rubber feet at the bottom of the stair was missing. There were no identifying marks on the mobile stair to enable it to be tracked and periodically inspected. I reported my observations to the “duty” manager in hopes they will remove the stair from service until it can get properly fixed. OSHA’s standard on mobile platforms 1910.23(e)(1)(viii) states  that the employer must ensure that no mobile ladder stand, or platform moves when an employee is on it.

I think they have some room for improvement in the safety and health program. I was disheartened that the associates did not even consider that the one nearly got injured retrieving an insignificant piece of merchandise.

Hope this was helpful and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan
P.S. If you have an interesting safety or health question please let me know.