Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001A Hazard:

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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. The employer is failing to protect employees from fall hazards associated with accessing the top of rail cars without the use of fall protection. The most recent occurrence of this was found at the facility located at 9620 S. Railroad Ave, Bridgeport, NE 69336 where the employer has employees tasked with opening the top hatches on grain rail cars by accessing the top of the rail cars while exposed to a 15 foot fall hazard, without the use of fall protection. 1. Implement a rail car loading plan that mandates no employee climb on top of a rail car unless protected against fall hazards by conventional fall protection. 2. Having a retractable lanyard prepositioned at the rail load fall protection system with a rope from the access platform to the hook so that the employee could pull the retractable hook to themselves and connect to their harness prior to dropping the walkway and walking out onto the car.