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 in that employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck by or caught under a collapsing roof truss system due to lack of bracing of the truss system: (a) On Building 28 of the Vinings Club at Metrowest complex, the metal plate connected wood roof truss system had not been adequately braced relative to the amount of bracing needed, the size of the bracing material used, and the locations of the braces to prevent collapse, and concrete roof tiles were placed on the unbraced roof system, increasing the likelihood of collapse, on or about August 18, 1997. One feasible and acceptable method of abatement, among other methods, to correct this hazard is to brace the trusses in accordance with the recommendations in HIB-91, "Handling, Installing & Bracing Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses" from the Truss Plate Institute, or the bracing recommendations of a registered professional engineer, and to prohibit the placing of material on the roof until adequate bracing has been installed.