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 overhead falling objects due to the inadequate design of the climbing assist device. The counterweight line, when not in use by the derrickhand, was designed to be secured to the derrick with a chain and clevis grab hook. Employees were exposed to overhead falling object hazards (the counterweight) from the potential for the hook to roll out of the chain when sudden tension on the guy line for the counterweight was released. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to rig the user end of the counterweight with a safety device such as a locking snaphook that can be attached to the derrick when not in use by the derrickhand.t