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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: 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 of likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to potential falls in excess of 200 feet and other injuries due to the inadequately rigged gin pole at the Nextel tower erection site in Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska. The gin pole was not rigged at the bottom by a basket choker and about mid point by a bridle choker as required by National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) guidelines. The gin pole was being pulled back to the vertical position to set the East leg of the tower. The jump line at some point lifted the pole enough to relax the bottom wire rope sling attaching it to the tower. The hook and the wire rope sling shifted from its seated position. When the sling shifted, the wire rope twisted. Since one end of the sling is fixed with a Flemish eye and shackle, the majority of any forced movement, and any memory twisting occurred on the opposite end which has a hook. This caused the hook safety latch to fail. The hook safety latch was found approximately 30 feet from the East leg of the tower. When the hook safety latch failed the bottom of the gin pole dropped and swung toward the center of the tower. This was enough slack to create a shock loading force great enough to cause the failure of the jump line resulting in the gin pole falling to the ground. The 3/8 inch jump line at the top of the tower failed approximately 18 inches from the wedge socket. Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable means of abatement to correct these hazards: 1)Rig the gin pole at the bottom by a basket choker and about mid point by a bridle choker as required by NATE guidelines. 2)Instruct and train workers on safe work procedures before initiating hoisting operations on communication towers by following guidelines established by OSHA Directive CPL 2-1.36 and NATE. Abatement certification and abatement documentation is required for this violation. The documentation should include written verification of abatement, applicable measurements or monitoring results, and photographs or videos which you believe will be helpful. Abatement certification sheet is enclosed with the citation.