Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 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 the hazard of falling from the personnel platform from a height of 15 feet onto pavement:: (a) St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton Missouri Job Site; On 8/1/94 at 2:20 pm employees were observed being hoisted and lowered on a platform suspended from a hydraulic crane boom. The employees were not wearing safety harnesses and were not attached to an appropriate anchorage with a lanyard. While ultimate responsibility rests with the employer, given his/her superior knowledge of the workplace, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard, among others, is for employees to attach themselves with safety harnesses and lanyards to anchor points, as referenced in ASME/ANSI B30.5-1989, Section 5-3.2.2, "Safety Standard for Cableways, Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Hooks, Jacks and Slings - Mobile and Locomotive Cranes". (a) Essential elements include: (1) Provide employees with appropriate safety harnesses and lanyards. (2) Designate or install anchor points on the lower load block or overhaul ball, or on a structural member within the personnel platform capable of supporting a fall impact for employees using the anchorage. (3) Train employees on the use of the equipment and the locations of the anchor points.