Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003 Hazard: FALLING

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish a place of employment which was 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: (a)Pinneo Feedlot, Ltd. Liability Company at 32295 Highway 34, Brush, CO 80723: On or before 09/19/06, the employer did not ensure that employees climbing fixed ladders, and standing on the top platforms, were protected in the following conditions: 1) The fixed ladders used to access the two older corn bins at the Akron site had no cages at both the vertical sections to get to the ridge, and on the roofs; 2)The fixed ladders for the newer bin at the Akron site, and for the corn bin at the Brush site, had no cages on the sections of ladder on the roofs; 3)The fixed ladders for the two older bins at the Akron site, and also the fixed ladder for the corn bin at the Brush site, had no platforms for the employees to stand on when taking measurements of corn depths; 4)The molasses silo at the Brush site had a cage up part way, but was missing a cage at the 21' mark to he 28' mark; 5)The employees did not wear ladder assist devices when climbing fixed ladders on the corn silos, corn bins, and liquid storage silos, with ladders as high as 40'; 6)Employees climbed to the very top of the Brush site on a ladder that had no cage (see note #2 below); 7)Employees climbed to the very top of the Brush site using harnesses with ropes, but did not use shock absorbing lanyards; 8)Employees climbed to the very top of the Brush site without using 100 fall protection (see note #3 below); 9)The employer did not ensure that employees climbing a fixed ladder had a clear and open landing, in that an air vent blocked this passage. The air vent measured 18" high and 10" wide in blocking egress to the fixed ladder. (See note #4 below); 10)The ladder on the Roto-Mix truck # 620-16 in Akron was bent with a broken rung; 11)The fixed ladders attached to the older bins at the Akron site were made of angle iron, and included sharp edges; 12)The ladder to the room above the tool room was extended up only 11", and was not secured. Conditions exposed employees to fall hazards of up to 70 feet; Abatement Note #1 Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter") Abatement Note #2: For the ladder used to access the top of the Brush site, a ladder assist device could be used in lieu of a cage. The ladder assist device would need to stop a person fall within several inches after a mis-step. Abatement Note #3: When climbing to the top of the Brush site, it is recommended that a retractable lanyard be anchored at the top with sufficient support for a fall, such as a 5,000 pound anchorage point. Once set in place, it is recommended that you tie a rope to the hook, and the rope should be long enough to reach from the hook to the platform at the base of the ladder, when the retractable lanyard is fully retracted. Tie the rope to the lower rung, as a means of securing the rope until needed. When climbing, pull the retractable hook down via the rope, disconnect the rope and connect the hook to the back of the harness, and use this for fall protection. The retractable lanyard should be used in addition to a ladder climbing device, hooked to the front of the harness. Abatement Note #4: Among other methods, several feasible and acceptable abatement methods exist, including: 1) Do not use this ladder, and block off access with a hinged door at the bottom of the cage, preventing personnel from climbing the ladder, but allowing personnel to exit this ladder in case of an emergency. Since this ladder serves the last two silos, it is important to maintain egress, but not access; 2) Move the ladder; or 3) move the vent. Abatement Note #5: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is to follow the fixed ladders conform to standards set out in 1910.27 and associated ANSI standards, and that personal fall arrest systems meet the standards set out in 1910.66(j) and associated ANSI standards such as Z359.1.