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) the hazards of falls into water, and the hazards associated with concrete form failure, in that the employer did not ensure that recognized safe rigging practices were followed in erecting guy wires for the EFCO form which failed on or about 8/9/2000 resulting in the drowning of three employees who were on the form. The following unsafe practices were noted: 1) clips that were not drop-forged and approved for guying were installed. 2) only one wire rope clip was used to form an eye splice for a guy wire. 3) the "U" section of of U-bolt wire rope clips was not in contact with the dead end of the wire rope. 4) a section of wire rope was spliced with 3 U-bolt wire rope clips instead of approved splicing devices. 5) 3/8 inch diameter wire rope was used for guying to carry wind load. Among other feasible and useful abatement methods to correct these hazards would be to ensure that only approved rigging devices are used for guying and to train employees in safe rigging practices including selection, installation and inspection.n