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 fall hazards while performing window cleaning operations on an 18 story building: a)945 River Road, Edgewater, NJ: The employer did not have a written work plan that documented the identified hazardous areas, drop zones, anchor points, and emergency recovery procedures for employees performing window cleaning operations, on or about 06/16/2010. ABATEMENT NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to prepare a written work plan as described in ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001 (Window Cleaning Safety) Section 1.7 (Plan of Service). b)945 River Road, Edgewater, NJ: A roof vent and a vent pipe were used as load bearing anchor points for main lines and life lines, on or about 06/16/2010. ABATEMENT NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to identify and certify anchorages as described in ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001 (Window Cleaning Safety) Section 3.9 (Anchorages). c)945 River Road, Edgewater, NJ: The main lines and life lines were not padded around the brick and metal corners of the penthouse and the roof and pipe vents, on or about 06/16/2010. ABATEMENT NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to ensure that building features, such as sharp edges of parapets, window frames, open projected windows, and cornices or overhangs cannot impair the structural integrity of the RDS (Rope Descent System) or associated fall protection rigging as described in ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001 (Window Cleaning Safety) Section 5.7.5 (Rope Descent Systems). d)945 River Road, Edgewater, NJ: The main line and the life line for both window cleaning operators were the same rope line tied to the same anchor point, on or about 06/16/2010. ABATEMENT NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is for each window cleaning operator to utilize an independent fall arrest system as described in ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001 (Window Cleaning Safety) Section 5.7.6 (Rope Descent Systems). e)945 River Road, Edgewater, NJ: A window cleaning operator was not secured to the lanyard and life line while sitting on the parapet and fell from a height of 18 stories, on or about 06/16/2010. ABATEMENT NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method of abatement is for each window cleaning operator to wear and completely assemble their personal fall arrest system prior to approaching the point of suspension as described in ANSI-IWCA I-14.1-2001 (Window Cleaning Safety) Section 5.7.7 (Rope Descent Systems). f)945 River Road, Edgewater, NJ: A main line and a life line had approximately ten (10) feet of slack between the penthouse and the pipe vent that the lines were using as a load bearing anchor point, on or about 06/16/2010. ABATEMENT NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method of abatement is for each main line and life line to be attached with minimal slack to an identified anchorage in line (within 15 degrees of perpendicular) with the area being accessed as described in ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001 (Window Cleaning Safety) Section 5.7.17 (Rope Descent Systems).