Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003C Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.140(d)(2)(ii): Personal fall arrest systems were not rigged in such a manner that the employees could not free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m) or contact a lower level: (a)True North Tower, LLC at Tower/Project # CER1308136, Grand Forks, ND 58201: On or about and at times prior to December 3, 2018, the employer did not ensure a tower tech/top hand employee was rigged in such a manner that the employee could not free fall more than 6 feet. Two employees were conducting maintenance work on a telecommunications tower using personal fall arrest systems with the lanyards and pelican snap-hooks connected to anchorage that was below the employees' waists. The tower tech/top hand was also utilizing an inadequate anchorage in conjunction with a positioning system that consisted of an enlarged or oversized carabiner placed over an open ended 5/8 inch step bolt on the tower. The carabiner was large enough to slide off of the open end of the step bolt and could have caused the employee to fall from the work position and greater than 6 feet due to the anchorage being below the employees feet. This condition exposed employees to injuries associated with increased arresting forces due to a free fall greater than 6 feet.