Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 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 fall hazards: Jobsite at Sovereign Bank Building, 1350 Main Street, Springfield, MA: On or about 6/11/09 employees were exposed to fall hazards while using rope descent systems to wash the exterior windows of the seventeen (17) story building. 1. Primary working lines and safety lines were tied to the same guardrail structure on the roof. The tie off points had unknown strength. 2. Two rack descent devices had excessive wear in the grooves of the break bars where ropes ran around them. One rack descent device had a hole in one of the break bars where the rope wore through it. Primary working lines, safety lines, seatboards, seatboard support webbing and tools were not thoroughly inspected before use on 6/11/09. AMONG OTHER METHODS THE FOLLOWING ARE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF ABATING THE HAZARD: 1. Develop and implement a written plan for the use of rope descent systems on the 1350 Main Street Sovereign Bank Building. Identify in the plan each anchorage that will be used as a tie off for both primary working lines and for safety lines. Ensure that each anchorage is capable of sustaining a 5000 pound minimum load. Ensure that anchorages used for personal fall arrest systems (safety lines) are independent of anchorages used for the suspension system (primary working lines) Ensure that personal fall arrest systems (safety lines) are not attached to guardrail systems. 2. Inspect all components of rope descent systems and all safety devices prior to assembling and using them. Immediately remove from service any components that have defects. Continuously monitor the condition of all components of rope descent systems during use. Remove from service rope descent racks with excessive wear. Conduct regular detailed inspections all components of rope descent systems subject to constant friction including rope descent racks. Mark or tag all ropes with date of manufacture and date placed in service. Track the use of primary working lines to ensure that they are not used longer than two (2) years from date first placed in service or three (3) years from date of manufacture. SPECIFIC ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF 29 CFR 1903.19 (D)3.19