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 falls while carrying objects on ladders and stepping off ladders onto platforms: a)Stock Room - Employees were exposed to falls while they carried stock items up and down ladders without maintaining 3 point contact at all times with the ladder. Ladders were used to carry items to elevated storage locations. b)The two-step ladder was used to reach extended heights without maintaining 3 point contact for support to prevent falls. c)Employees were exposed to falls while they stepped off the ladder onto the platform without the ladder extending at least 3 feet above the platform surface or without handholds or grab bars in place for safe access to the platform. Among the feasible control measures included: 1)Use portable stairs with railings or some other safe access for carrying items to the elevated storage shelves. 2)Use a material handling device to lift materials to the elevated shelves. 3)Provide safe access to the platform with a portable or fixed stair, a fixed ladder, or a portable ladder extending at least 3 feet above the platform, or providing handholds or grab bars for safe access.