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 the hazards associated with the improper storage of boats onto boat stands: Onset Bay Corporation DBA Onset Bay Marina: On October 25, 2001 the employer used boat stands only to support the weight of a 30 foot boat. Industry practice is to support the weight of the boat on wooden blocks placed under the keel of the boat and the boat stands are used to stabilize and balance the boat on the wood blocks. Among other methods of control, one feasible and acceptable method to correct these hazards is to establish a standard operating procedure for the hauling and storage of boats. This procedure would include, but not be limited to, 1) ensuring boats are properly centered when mounted onto the hydraulic trailers during removal from the water. This would include re-floating and centering the boat if necessary. 2) Forbidding the use of boat stands as the sole means of support at any time and under any circumstances. 3) Following the manufacturer's recommended number of supports per unit length of boat hull. 4) Placing appropriate sized sheets of plywood under boat stands when the ground is of a consistency that it can be displaced by the demands placed upon it. 5) Using the proper boat stand for the boat being supported, e.g., never using a "V"-head boat stand on a powerboat. 6) Properly leveling all boats prior to leaving them for winter storage to minimize the possibility of them falling off the boat stands. 7) Following all other requirements and recommendations from the manufacturers of these instruments which will minimize the potential for employee injuries.