Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 010 Hazard: FALLING

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employmnent 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.Feed Mill - On the catwalk going across the top of the grain bins there were no guard rails to prevent a fall of approximately 100 feet for employees who had to step over a guide wire and over to a platform above the first grain bin while walking on the catwalk. b.Feed Mill - On the catwalk (just outside the east door at the top of the elevator) the railing beside the steps leading north used to access the catwalk across the grain bins was inadequate in that it did not extend out far enough to protect against a fall of approximately 100 feet. There was a 29 1/2 inch space at the beginning of the stairs where employees could fall over the edge. c.Feed Mill - On the catwalk leading to the top of Wet Bin #1 there were no midrails to protect employees from a fall hazard of approximately 60 feet. d.Feed Mill - At the west end of the catwalk leading to a vessel in the Head House the were no guard rails for the 37 inch and 27 inch openings between the end of the catwalk and the vessel. Employees were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 20 feet. e.Feed Mill - In the Head House there were unguarded floor openings on the platform above the Finish Feed Cleaner. Employees were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 20 feet. f.Feed Mill - On the west wall of the Head House the 27 feet high fixed ladder that employees used to access the Air Lock Vessel did not have a cage for fall protection. g.Layer 4, Barn 52 - On or about 3/4/97 bird movers were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 8 feet while loading and unloading carts of chickens onto a truck at the back end of the barn across an inadequately guarded platform. h.Pullet 2, Barn 6 - On or about 3/4/97 bird movers were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 8 feet while loading and unloading carts of chickens onto a truck at the front end of the barn across an inadequately guarded platform. i.Pullet 2, Barn 8 - On or about 3/12/97 bird movers were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 8 feet while loading and unloading carts of chickens onto a truck at the front end of the barn across an inadequately guarded platform. j.There was a gap of 20 inches at the opening to the barn at House 8 where the chicken pullers unloaded carts to load chickens into the carts. k.The distance from the centerline of the rungs to the nearest permanent object in back of the ladder was less than seven inches at Layer Site 1, Barns 2 through 14, where a fixed ladder was used to gain access to the manure pit, in that the distance from the centerline of the rungs to the wall was 2 1/4 to 5 3/4 inches. l.The distance from the centerline of the rungs to the nearest permanent object in back of the ladder was less than seven inches at Layer Site 2, Barns 15 through 28, where a fixed ladder was used to gain access to the manure pit, in that the distance from the centerline of the rungs to the wall was 2 1/4 to 5 3/4 inches. m.The distance from the centerline of the rungs to the nearest permanent object in back of the ladder was less than seven inches at Layer Site 3, Barns 29 through 42, where a fixed ladder was used to gain access to the manure pit, in that the distance from the centerline of the rungs to the wall was 2 1/4 to 5 3/4 inches. n.The distance from the centerline of the rungs to the nearest permanent object in back of the ladder was less than seven inches at Layer Site 4, Barns 43 through 56, where a fixed ladder was used to gain access to the manure pit, in that the distance from the centerline of the rungs to the wall was 2 1/4 to 5 3/4 inches. o.At Layer Site 1, Barns 1 through 14, the fixed ladder used to gain access to the manure pit was unsafe in that the rail at the top was only 25 or 37 inches high. p.At Layer Site 2, Barns 15 through 28, the fixed ladder used to gain access to the manure pit was unsafe in that the rail at the top was only 25 or 37 inches high. q.At Layer Site 2, Barns 29 through 42, the fixed ladder used to gain access to the manure pit was unsafe in that the rail at the top was only 25 to 37 inches high. r.At Layer Site 4, Barns 43 through 56, the fixed ladder used to gain access to the manure pit was unsafe in that the rail at the top was only 37 inches high. s.The stairs to the barns in the Layer 1 Egg Processing Area were unsafe in that there was no guardrail on the side closest to the conveyor. t. The stairs to the barns in the Layer 2 Egg Processing Area were unsafe in that there was no guardrail on the side closest to the conveyor. u.The stairs to the barns in the Layer 3 Egg Processing Area were unsafe in that there was no guardrail on the side closest to the conveyor. v. The stairs to the barns in the Layer 4 Egg Processing Area were unsafe in that there was no guardrail on the side closest to the conveyor. w.The steps outside the Layer 1 Egg Processing Area exit which lead to the parking lot were unsafe in that they had no midrail. x.The steps outside the Layer 2 Egg Processing Area exit which lead to the parking lot were unsafe in that they had no midrail. y. The steps outside the Layer 3 Egg Processing Area exit which lead to the parking lot were unsafe in that they had no midrail. z. The steps outside the Layer 4 Egg Processing Area exit which lead to the parking lot were unsafe in that they had no midrail. aa. At Pullet Site 2, Barns 6 through 11, the steps from the lower to the upper level in front of the barns were unsafe in that they had no midrail. bb.At Pullet Site 2, Barns 6 through 11, the steps from the lower to upper level at the east end of the barn were unsafe in that they had no midrail. cc. The stairs to the barns in the Layer 2 Egg Processing Area were unsafe in that the last step descending on the stairs to the barns was up to 2 1/2 inches greater rise than the rest of the steps. dd. The stairs to the in the Layer 3 Egg Processing Area were unsafe in that the last step descending on the stairs to the barns was up to 2 1/2 inches greater rise than the rest of the steps. ee.The stairs to the barns in the Layer 4 Egg Processing Area were unsafe in that the last step descending on the stairs to the barns was up to 2 1/2 inches greater rise than the rest of the steps. ff.Throughout all the pullet barns and all the layer barns, in the attics the employees were exposed to falls through theceiling to the bird rack level in that there were no safe walking/working surfaces in the attics. Among other methods, one feasible means of abatement would be to provide and install guard rails, ladders, stairs and surfaces that are in compliance with the American National Standards Institute. Abatement certification and documentation are required.tion