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

Section 5(a)(1) of Public Law 91-596, 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 from an elevated personnel platform. (a)Construction Site, Wild Rose Furniture Co., Iuka, MS - Between July 1, 1998 and August 28, 1998, a personnel platform used in conjunction with a Rough Terrain Forklift (Skytrak Model #8042), had a toprail of 32.5 inches high and no midrail. This condition exposed employees to fall hazards of 25 feet to 38 feet 4 inches while connecting structural steel, accessing roof to install metal roofing, and installing metal siding. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to design, construct, utilize, and maintain the personnel platform by installing a guardrail 42 inches above the floor with a midrail in accordance with ANSI/ASME B56.6-1992, Safety Standard for Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks, Section III, Paragraph 8.25, Platforms for Elevating Personnel.