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 are exposed to falls from ladders due to improper use. Warehouse Area: An employee was exposed to a fall hazard due to the employee using a fiberglass ladder to access an area that was 2 feet higher than the working platform and located to the side of the ladder. This placed an excessive amount of side loading on the ladder (tipping hazard) as well as exposed the employee to a fall of 10 feet while he attempted to climb from the ladder platform (8 feet) to the shelf unit (10 feet). AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS: (a) Train employees to recognize conditions that may result in the unsafe use of a fiberglass ladder. (b) Develop and implement a disciplinary action program and procedures to ensure that employees follow any guidelines established for safe ladder use. (c) Utilize and implement the manufactures guidelines for safe use as well as ANSI A14-5-2000, American National Standard for Ladders - Portable Reinforced Plastic - Safety Requirements. This should include: 1. All warning labeling on the ladder as well as any instructions for use developed by the manufacturer. 2. Applicable sections of the ANSI standard listed above relating to the use of fiberglass stepladders. 3. Ladder inspection techniques to ensure that damaged or improperly placed ladders are not used. Abatement certification is required for this violation. The abatement certification sheet is enclosed with the citations.