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: a.In the finishing area, employees cleaning and applying silicon were working on the top of the trailers that varied from 95 to 98 inches from the floor. Fall protection was not provided exposing employees to the hazard of falls from elevation. b.In the washing area, employees were standing on the tops of trailers 87 inches tall using a high pressure hose to wash the tops of the trailers with degreaser. Fall protection was not provided exposing employees to the hazard of falls from elevation. Feasible abatement methods could include but are not limited to: 1.Construct a portable scaffold system with adjustments to meet the height and width of the various trailers and provides perimeter guarding around the trailer when employees are required to work on top of the trailer. 2.Install a suspended static line or life line in a arrangement which can be used by employees during the cleaning, washing and silicon operations where the employees work on top of the trailers and implement a program requiring the use of safety belts and lanyards attached to the static or life lines. Disclaimers: 1.The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA. 2.The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases. 3.The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an appropriate abatement method. IN THE ALTERNATIVE 29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open sided floor(s) or platform(s) 4 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent as specified in 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(i) through (vi), on all open sides: a.In the Finishing area, employees cleaning and applying silicon were working on the top of the trailers that varied from 95 to 98 inches from the floor. Guard rails were not provided exposing employees to the hazard of falls from elevation. b.In the Washing area, employees were standing on the tops of trailers 87 inches tall using a high pressure hose to wash the tops of the trailers with degreaser. Guardrails were not provided exposing employees to the hazard of falls from elevation.