Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: EXPLOSION

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: 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 in that employees were exposed to the hazard of compounding physical injury and/or death while awaiting rescue from elevated work locations in that: a)On or about February 15, 2000, and prior to that date, employees performing intermediate structural tower assembly, at heights exceeding 100.0 feet, were exposed to the hazard of compounding physical injury and/or death while awaiting rescue from elevated work locations in that: (1)No rescue plan, system, or devices were available in the event expedited removal was necessary; (2)Proximal emergency medical services were not capable of providing high angle/location rescue due to the location of the telecommunications tower; (3)Employees were not trained in the methods and procedures utilized for rapid evacuation from elevated locations(high angle rescue). One means of abatement among others, is to: (1)Establish a rescue procedure including training for employees and the acquisition and usage of a controlled descent device to allow a controlled lowering of an injured employee; (2)Pre-planning to include the capabilities of localized fire/rescue services for equipment availability (height), high angle rescue capability, and their response time to the worksite.