One of the temporary weekend milkers also works at an insurance firm. They pointed out to the dairy owners that if you have more than three steps, OSHA requires a handrail. There are three steps up on either side of the parlor pit (where we stand to put on milkers) to where the cows stand. However, I guess you also have to count the top of the steps and the bottom of the steps so that makes five. Yesterday the owners had handrails installed. I joked w/ Eric, the owner, that they were put in for me since I was about to turn 60. He answered that maybe they should have put in a wheelchair ramp instead! I realize that the handrails were put in for our safety but I worry they are overkill. No one has ever fallen on those stairs yet Mike and I have already painfully bumped into the new handrails twice so far.
1 comment:
"Overkill" comes to my mind too. OSHA probably has regs for inclines as well. In the IBM Mfg bldg I work, people are constantly pushing, pulling, lifting sizeable machines and parts all day long. Doing several miles of walking (it's over half mile just to the cafeteria). Yet, there are 8-10 handicapped parking spaces outside closest to the entrance, that I've never seen anyone use.
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