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

Nevada Revised Statute 618.375(1): Duties of employers. The employer failed to furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees: The employer failed to furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards for employees cleaning windows at the Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino, as follows: a.The Plan of Service, also known as the work plan, was not onsite during the walkaround portion of the inspection and had not been provided to the Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino. Employees had been cleaning windows from the 15th floor for approximately four and one half days. Reference: ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, Window Clean Safety, Section 1.7, Plan of Service, "A written plan developed by the window cleaning contractor or qualified person shall be provided that will inform the building owner or their operating agents when windows to be cleaned are located in areas where workers may utilize suspended equipment or; where workers are exposed to falls and other known hazards or; where the public may be exposed to overhead equipment operations." Abated During Inspection 5/19/08. b.The Emergency Recovery Plan, part of the Plan of Service and the Written Safety and Health Program, did not include emergency recovery from windows. Employees were and had been rappelling from the windows of the hotel rooms to wash the outside of the windows from 5/5-5/9/08. The plan had rooftop recovery only. Reference: ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, Window Clean Safety, Section 1.8, Emergency Recovery, "In the event of power failure, equipment failure or disability of any nature, means and procedures shall be established and provided for the safe emergency recovery of persons working from suspended equipment or other types of installations." c.The work plan did not include, that prior to making a descent, the requirement to inspect the building exterior, take appropriate measures as need to prevent impairment of the structural integrity of the RDS or associated fall protection rigging, and secure padding when used. Reference: ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, Window Cleaning Safety, Section 5.7.5, Rope Descent Systems (RDS), "Prior to making a descent, the building exterior shall be visually inspected and where necessary, shall be taken to ensure that building features, such as sharp edges of parapets, window frames, open projected windows and cornices or overhangs cannot impair the structural integrity of the RDS or associated fall protection rigging. When used, padding shall be secured to prevent its dislodging from the surface to be protected. Thesemeasures shall be incorporated into the work plan in accordance with section 1.7 of this standard." The employees were exposed to a fall of up to 14 stories (15 floors) to the concrete slabs below. One feasible means of abatement would be to ensure that all aspects of the ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, Window Cleaning Safety, standard are followed.