Violation Detail
Standard Cited: 5A0001 OSH Act General Duty Paragraph
Inspection Nr: 309008597
Citation: 01001
Citation Type: Repeat
Abatement Date: 01/25/2006 X
Initial Penalty: $70,000.00
Current Penalty: $70,000.00
Issuance Date: 12/06/2005
Nr Instances: 1
Nr Exposed: 2
Related Event Code (REC): A
Gravity: 10
Report ID: 0134000
Contest Date: 12/28/2005
Final Order: 07/17/2006
Emphasis:
| Type | Latest Event | Event Date | Penalty | Abatement Due Date | Citation Type | Failure to Abate Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penalty | F: Formal Settlement | 07/17/2006 | $70,000.00 | 01/25/2006 | Repeat | |
| Penalty | Z: Issued | 12/06/2005 | $70,000.00 | 01/25/2006 | Willful |
Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CRUSHING
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 workers engaged in window washing operations were exposed to fall hazards, crushing hazards, and struck-by hazards resulting from an improperly rigged, anchored and/or operated outrigger beam suspension unit in such operations. (a) Location - Six New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA: On 6/8/2005, an employee washing windows while suspended from an improperly rigged, anchored and/or operated Fitch Mule Mid-Size Roof Roller on the building's flat roof top fell about 48 feet and then was struck by the Roof Roller when it rolled or fell off the roof top and landed on him. * The Roof Roller was not tied back to an anchorage point on the building, as per the manufacturer's instructions and ANSI/IWCA STD I-14.1-2001. * The Roof Roller was not equipped with sufficient weight in counterweights to provide for minimum weight and stability factors, e.g. the 4 to 1 safety ratio set forth in ANSI/IWCA STD I-14.1-2001 (or otherwise established in the manufacturer's instructions) regarding static position use and horizontal traveling position use. * The Roof Roller's 2 front wheels were improperly installed. * The employee tending the Roof Roller had little or no on-the-job training -- and no formal training at all -- in setting up, rigging, anchoring or using the Roof Roller, contrary to ANSI/IWCA STD I-1.1-2001. * Horizontal movement of the employee suspended from the Roof Roller occurred despite the absence of the requisite 4 to 1 safety ratio for stability in the Roof Roller as assembled and the absence of mandatory independent anchorage for the Roof Roller and the safety line as set forth in ANSI/IWCA STD I-1.1-2001. * The employee suspended from the Roof Roller did not drop down to the ground as per the manufacturer's instructions when the Roof Roller made angled turns around the perimeter of the roof. * No hazard assessment was performed prior to the start of the work. * No on-site inspection was performed prior to the start of the work. * No manufacturer's instructions were provided to the employee tending the Roof Roller, contrary to ANSI/IWCA STD I-14.1-2001. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard include but are not limited to: 1) Conduct comprehensive, effective hands-on training and testing, repeated periodically, to ensure that each employee engaged in window washing operations safely and properly rigs, anchors and operates the Roof Roller and any other outrigger beam suspension units used in such operations. Such training shall be conducted in employees' native language(s). Do not permit employees to engage in window washing operations with outrigger beam suspension units until they have completed such training and testing in a satisfactory manner. 2) When scheduling work to be performed, ensure that a competent person conducts a full and complete on-site inspection and hazard assessment for the rigging, anchoring and operation of outrigger beam suspension units to be used in the window washing operation. A competent person is defined as a person who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards with respect to window washing operations and who is authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate such hazards. 3) Ensure that warning signs on equipment are written in the native language(s) spoken by employees. 4) Ensure that outrigger beam suspension units such as the Roof Roller are assembled according to the manufacturers' instructions and provide a minimum 4 to 1 safety ratio on each worksite as set forth in ANSI/IWCA STD I-14.1-2001. By way of example this includes but is not limited to ensuring that: (a) the front wheels of the Roof Roller - which serve as the fulcrum point of the outrigger beam - are properly positioned along the beam and also that they are properly installed with respect to the vertical positioning bolts, with regard to the job needs at each worksite; and (b) sufficient weight in counterweights is calculated -- with due regard for the fulcrum point and the safety ratio -- then installed on the Roof Roller. 5) Ensure that outrigger beam suspension units such as the Roof Roller are anchored & tied back to a secure anchorage point on the building at all times when in use as required by ANSI/IWCA STD I-14.1-2001 and the manufacturer's instructions 6) Do not use outrigger beam suspension units such as the Roof Roller on a roof with no parapet wall unless the roof edge is otherwise guarded so as to prevent roll off. 7) Assign a competent person to each job site and ensure that (s)he inspects the set up, rigging, anchorage, counterweights and all aspects of the Roof Roller &/or any other outrigger beam suspension unit prior to and during each use. A competent person is defined as a person who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards with respect to window washing operations and who is authorized to take prompt corrective measures when needed.
Translate