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

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: In that employees were exposed to a fall from elevations of approximately 130 feet while lowering the life-line for a two-point suspension scaffold over the edge of the roof of a thirteen-story apartment building on April 16, 1993. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to require employees to wear safety belts with lanyard properly tied off while performing this task. The employer is not limited to abatement methods suggested by OSHA; i.e., methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases. Other methods of abatement may be equally or more appropriate. Ultimate responsibility for determining the most appropriate abatement method rests with the employer, given its superior knowledge of the specific conditions on its worksite.