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 employee(s) were exposed to a fall hazard of 16 feet to the ground while de-rigging slings from a hoisted load and the crane hook. (a) On 7/29/02, two employees were required to stand on top of a cargo load that had been hoisted from the ship's hold and placed on a flatbed railcar. Employees had to stand on top of the load to de-rig the slings from the crane hook. While doing this, the employees were not wearing fall protection and one employee fell approximately 16 feet to the ground causing serious injuries. Among others, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to provide fall protection to employees in accordance with 1918.85(k). This occupational safety and health standard adequately describes how to install, maintain and use personal fall protective systems and equipment that should have been used in this operation.