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 falling hazard while working on a damaged plastic step stool. a.Display area of store - On or about 5/2/05, employees were exposed to the hazard of falling while working from a damaged "Handy 2-Step" plastic step stool. Abatement Note: One feasible method of abatement, among others, would be to establish and implement a program and training on selection, care, and use of ladder type step stools. While developing a program, assistance can be found in ANSI Standard A14.5-2000, American Standard for Ladders - Portable Reinforced Plastic - Safety Requirements. Selection shall be, as a minimum, a Type I industrial, heavy duty stool with a working load of 250 lbs. Care includes a thorough inspection when the stool is first purchased and periodic inspections, preferably before each use. Where structural damage or other hazardous defects are found, the stool shall be taken out of service and destroyed or repaired by a competent mechanic. Stools must be handled with care and not be subjected to dropping, jarring, or misuse. Any variation from the intended purpose of the stool constitutes a mishandling of the equipment.