Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: GUARDING

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 drowning by swimming through rough water to remove a lodged raft, working as whitewater rafting guides. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is to prohibit employees from intentionally entering the water. This could be accomplished by: 1) Removing lodged rafts with a casting rope. 2) Management personnel, including lead guides, must be trained/retrained in hazard recognition and avoidance of hazards associated with whitewater rafting. 3) Employees must be trained/retrained in the hazards associated with whitewater rafting. 4) Management personnel, including lead guides, must be trained/retrained in safe procedures for dislodging rafts which have become lodged or hung-up on rocks and/or other obstructions on the river. 5) Management personnel must evaluate PFDs (lifejackets) to ensure that PFDs in use meet the United States Coast Guard approval for such use. 6) Management personnel must establish a safety and health program which includes safe operating procedures for whitewater rafting.