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 the hazard of being struck by falling trusses: (a) Firehouse, 2300 Merrick Ave., Merrick, NY - Employees installing roof trusses without the lateral braces being anchored and were struck by falling trusses; on or about 3/22/91. (b) Firehouse, 2300 Merrick Ave., Merrick, NY - Employees installing roof trusses were struck by falling trusses. The trusses were subjected to an excessive concentrated weight (piggy back trusses) that was not spread out evenly over a large area so as to avoid overloading any one truss. This condition could create a domino effect; on or about 3/22/91. ABATEMENT NOTES: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method of correct this hazard is to establish and enforce adequate safe working procedures. Procedures such as those established in the pamphlet from the "Truss Plate Institute". Bracking Wood Trusses: Commentary and recommendations. Elements essential to an acceptable safe working procedure include at a minimum: (1) Lateral bracing anchored into solid wall to prevent web buckling. (2) No excess concentration of any construction materials should be placed on trusses in any one area; they should be spread out evenly over a large area so as to avoid overloading any one truss.