Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: FALLING

Labor and Employment Article, Section 5-104(a): 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: (a)Date of Violation:07/28/00 Location:Adjacent to the Tank Stiffener for the #2 Conveyor Sump Tank Assembly (Quench Tank) Condition:Subcontractor's employee using a 6' fiberglass stepladder to get into and out of the 93" deep tank was exposed to a fall into or against the tank. The top of the ladder was approximately 1' to 2' below the top surface of the tank and its feet were on the curved bottom. Employee using the ladder did not have anything to grasp while getting onto and off the ladder at the top of the tank, and the ladder was not secured against movement. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement method to correct this hazard is to provide a ladder of sufficient length so that the side rails extend at least 3' (.9m) above the landing surface, secure and/or position the ladder to prevent displacement, and ensure that the rungs, cleats, steps are parallel, level, and uniformly spaced when the ladder is in position for use. The proposed penalty for this item has been reduced by 50for effective and efficient abatement during the inspection.