Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001B Hazard: FALLING

IN THE ALTERNATIVE: 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 elevated surfaces, caused by the lack of fall protection for employees working at heights of 22-1/2 feet above ground level: (a) 3201 West Broadway, Sedalia, Missouri, worksite. On or about July 27, 1992, an employee, working at a height of 22-1/2 feet above ground level while welding bar joist to a joist girder, was not protected from falls by a lanyard and safety harness and there was no alternative fall protection provided. At about 11:40 a.m., on July 27, 1992, the employee fell 22-1/2 feet and was fatally injured. While ultimate responsibility for correcting the hazard rests with the employer, given his/her superior knowledge of the workplace, one feasible and acceptable means to correct this hazard, among others, is to establish and implement employee use of safety harnesses and lanyards attached to a suitable mounting point. Essential elements would include: (1) Provide a horizontal mounting cable along the length of each joist girder which would, when used as a tie-off point for the lanyards attached to employees' safety harnesses, would limit falls to 6 feet or less; (2) Train employees in effective use of these devices; and (3) Provide lanyards and harnesses and enforce use by all employees exposed to falls from elevators.