Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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 hazard of being struck by falling telecommunication tower components lifted using improper rigging: (a)Pinola Tower Site - On July 5, 2007 employees working on telecommunication tower were exposed to being struck by falling boom-gate (tower antenna mount) that was being elevated by a cat-head using a snatch block with a load hook that was connected to the top flange SW leg by a Karabiner. The Karabiner was designed for use with a personal fall arrest system was connected through a bolt hole on the flange. (b)Pinola Tower Site - On July 5, 2007 one of the slings used to lift tower boom- gate or tower antenna mount on July 5, 2007 was connected using a karabiner. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is not use karabiner designed for use with a personal fall arrest system.