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 falling from defective ladder: (a)Blending Department, 3539 Oneida Valley Road, Emlenton, PA: On or about 02/29/12, the employees were using a 10 ft. Werner non-conductive fiberglass step ladder that was damaged in that the rear side rail was broken and had been repaired by duct taping a piece of wood between the cracked rail for support. In addition, the ladder legs did not sit firmly on the ground and employees used pieces of wood or metal to shim the ladder to level it. The employees use the ladder daily to access the hatch on the blender. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to provide ladders that meet the requirements of ANSI A14.5, Ladders - Portable Reinforced Plastic - Safety Requirements and to perform inspections and maintenance of ladders and remove ladders from service when damaged as described in ANSI A14.5, section 9.