Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 004 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, in that: a.Employees were exposed to the hazards of collapsing structural steel beams while in the process of erecting a steel structure when it collapsed. On or about March 3, 1994, an employee was fatally injured when a steel structure known as the "ejection seat," collapsed. During the placement of structural members, the load was released from the hoisting line hen a single incorrectly sized bolt was used to connect the members and the bolt was not wrench tight. One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct this hazard is to use the required number and correct size bolts at t he appropriate connections as stipulated in the employer's operations and maintenance manual; conduct the required inspections of the structural members, components and connections as stipulated in the employer's operations and maintenance manual; and, establish an inventory procedure to be performed prior to erection of the structure to assure that all appropriate equipment and materials to be used in the task of erecting the structure are available and in good repair. b.Employees were exposed to the hazards of falling from elevations while in the process of erecting a steel structure when it collapsed. On or about March 3, 1994, during the process of erecting a steel structure known as the "ejection seat", an employee, who was attached to the top of an inadequately supported and unstable vertical steel beam by a single safety belt, fell 40 feet with the partially erected structure when it collapsed. The employee was fatally injured when he and the structure hit the ground. One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct this hazard is to use an aerial lift so that an employee will not have to be secured to the structure during the erection process.