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 employmnent 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: On 6/4/99, an employee assisting in connecting the "mast" and motorized "truck" of an automated retrieval system was exposed to fall hazards while straddling a 4 inch wide cross member 9 ft. - 7 in. above floor level. A rented boom crane was used to lower the mast onto the bottom "truck" while a forklift truck was used to keep the upper section straight. With the employee straddling the cross member, in an attempt to place a guide "bull" pin into the mating sections, the bottom section tipped over and pinned the employees leg against the test structure. Among other methods, the following are feasible and acceptable methods to protect employees from fall hazards during the assembly of retrieval system components: 1. Use work platforms with standard guard rails, and... 2. In addition to placing blocks under the truck, secure the bottom section to the test structure to prevent it from tipping over, and... 3. Develop written procedures for assembling sections of automated retrieval systems which are other than standard assemblies and ensure that employees are trained in those procedures prior to starting assembly work.