Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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: a) On June 10, 1988 at the Hammocks Blvd. site, wooden roof trusses being erected were not adequately braced to prevent a truss collapse, exposing employee(s) to the hazards of being struck by, or falling from collapsing trusses: The following deficiences were noted: 1) Number of lateral braces were insufficient. 2) The lateral braces were not lapped a minimum of two (2) trusses each. 3) Lateral braces were not continuous for the entire length of the building. 4) The first truss (end) were not braced securely (scabs were used). 5) No diagonal braces were used. 6) Web and bottom chord bracing were insufficient in amount. 7) Diagonal braces were not used, at the top chord, or Web, nor at the bottom chord end bays. 8) Timber used for bracing was not minimum 2x4. 9) Nails used were not 16 Penny double headed. 10) Long laterals were not installed and short erection braces removed immediately when possible. Among other methods one feasible and acceptable method of abating these hazards is to install trusses in accordance with the requirements of the Truss Plate Institute which are contained in BWT-76 "Bracing Wood Trusses".