Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003A 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 hazards of falls while utilizing a decent control device to caulk joints on parking garage walls: (a)On or about 09/16/08 at the construction site located at 6300 Bee Caves Dr., Austin, TX, employee working from a "Sky Genie" seatboard utilizing a descent control; 1) was supported from a single 1/2 inch nylon braided rope tied back to the fence railing with the lifeline tied back to the same fence railing. 2) The waist nylon belt webbing on the seatboard was tied in a knot. 3) Rope and lifeline were not firmly secured to the anchorage point using drop forged connectors. 4) A rope grab was used on the lifeline with a 6 foot lanyard attached to the D-ring of the harness. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to comply with the following: 1.Develop and implement a comprehensive training program on the use of the Sky Genie, including provisions to inspect the equipment and anchorage method prior to each use by management and by the users. 2.Instruct employees in the proper use of the seatboard webbing seatbelts. 3.Ensure independent lifelines are secured to anchor points separate from the descent rope, meeting OSHA standards, capable of supporting at least 5000 pounds. 4.Ensure a 3 foot lanyard is used and attached to the D-ring of the harness. In the Alternative: 29 CFR 1926.451(d)(3)(i): Before the scaffold was used, direct connections were not evaluated by a competent person who shall confirm, based on the evaluation, that the supporting surfaces are capable of supporting the loads to be imposed: (a)On or about 09/16/08 at the construction site located at 6300 Bee Caves Dr., Austin, TX, employee working from a Sky Genie seatboard utilizing a descent control which was hung from a single 1/2 inch nylon braided rope tied back to the fence railing with the lifeline tied back to the same fence railing, exposing employees to the hazards of falls.