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 from elevations in the following instances: On or about May 17, 2008 and at times thereto at the jobsite located at 55 South 7th St. in Fort Smith, Arkansas: [A] Employees were found to be exposed to fall hazards, while working from and as passengers on a personnel platform being lifted by a Caterpillar Model TH63, PIN 5WM02216 Telescopic Handler extendible boom rough terrain forklift truck. The employees were working approximately 13 to 27 feet above the level below without the benefit of a fall protection system. Among other methods, two feasible and acceptable means of abatement method to correct this hazard are: (1) Provide employees working in elevated personnel platforms with personal fall protection (2) Comply with ANSI B56.6- 2005 Section 5.15.1, "Safety Standard for Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks Requirements for Personnel Platforms" In accordance, with this standard employees are required to use a full body harness and lanyard anchored to the personnel platform. [B] Employees were exposed to a potential fall or tipping hazard when working from a platform due to the excessive width of the platform. Additionally, the extension of the platform past the width of the truck created a potential for a springboard action, whereby, employees not wearing fall protection could be ejected out of the elevated platform. The width of the platform was 238 inches and the width of the forklift measured across the load bearing tires was 96 inches. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to comply with the requirements set forth in ASME B56.6-2002, Section 8.24, "Platforms for Elevating Personnel" which states: Floor dimensions which shall not exceed two times the load center distance listed on the rough terrain forklift truck nameplate, measured parallel to the longitudinal center plane of the truck, nor have a width greater than the overall width of the truck [measured across the load bearing tires plus 10 in.(250 mm) on either side]. Minimum space for each person on the platform shall not be less than 18 in. (450 mm) in either direction. Abatement Disclaimers: 1. The employer is not limited to the abatement methods above. 2. The recommended abatement methods may not be effective in all circumstances. 3. The employer is responsible for selecting an appropriate abatement method.