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

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 falls of up to 300 feet by using a lifting system to hoist employees up and down the tower in an unsafe manner: At the worksite at Canal & Line Street in Leesburg, FL on or about October 2, 2001: Employees were working on a tower to install new antennas and they were being hoisted by a lift system without following the industry recognized standards, exposing them to potential falls of up to 300 feet. 1.Employees were hoisted on a load line that also was being used to lower a gin pole that was suspended on the same load line at the same time. 2.A gin pole raising line was used to raise and lower employees. 3.An anti-two block device was not used on the hoist system to shut down the hoist motor if a load is raised too high, including hoisted employees. 4.The personnel load capacity and material load capacity of the lifting system was not posted near the location of the hoist operator. 5.The gin pole load capacity for its current configuration was not posted at the hoist for the hoist operator. 6.There was no documentation available of a trial lift, inspection or proof tests of the lifting system prior to using it to hoist employees. 7.There was no documentation available of a pre-lift meeting being conducted prior to the lifting of employees. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to abate this violation include, but are not limited to: follow the industry recognized standars as stated in OSHA Directive CPL 2-1.29, "Interim Inspection Procedures During Communication Tower Construction Activities", and as stated in the NIOSH ALERT, DHHS Publication No. 3001-156 "Preventing Injuries and Deaths From Falls During Construction and Maintenance of Telecommunication Towers, July 2001", and to: 1.Ensure that whenever a load line is being used to raise or lower employee(s), there is no other load attached to any hoist line, and no other load is raised or lowered at the same time on the same hoist. 2.Ensure that the gin pole raising line is not used to raise or lower employees. 3.Utilize an anti-two block device on the hoist system. 4.Post the personnel load capacity and material load capacity of the lifting system near the location of the hoist operator. 5.Post the gin pole load capacity for its current configuration at the hoist for the hoist operator. 6.Conduct and document a trial lift, inspection or proof tests of the lifting system prior to using it to hoist employees. 7.Conduct and document a pre-lift meeting prior to the lifting of employees. ABATEMENT VERIFICATION IS REQUIRED.ION