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 cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to: a) For employees who work on top of above ground storage tanks, on September 11, 1990, an employee was working on top of a leaking 6700 gallon fiberglass tank that had sustained structural damage as was evident from the deformation of the top of the tank. The tank contained approximately 1000 gallons of 33% Hydrochloric Acid at this time the employee was dressed in full level a clothing including, SCBA and had experienced the tank "giving" beneath his weight. The height of the tanks was 10.5' feet and had the top of the tank collapsed, the employee would have fallen into approximately 1000 gallong of 33% HCI. Employee radioed to command post that tank was giving under him and that he not make it back to the ladder. At the time the employee was utilizing no means of fall protection system. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is the use of an overhead ILG lift. Thereby lowering the employee onto the tank and having the employee tied off by a harness to the basket, or as an alternative, employee could have completed task from inside the basket.