Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 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 workers were exposed to the hazard of falling from a building during window washing operations: a) 1025 Conn Ave NW - Workers were exposed to a 10 story fall (approx. 105ft) due to the following: - Using prohibited emergency descent equipment "Sky Genie" for window cleaning (ANSI A39. la-1988 sec. 11.3) -Employer did not have emergency recovry procedures established to rescue stricken workers (ANSI A39. la-1988 sec. 10.2.8(b)) -Employer did not provide window cleaning employees with safety equipment and devices conforming with the requirement of this ANSI A39.la. - 1988. -Employer did not provide instruction nor supervision in the use of safety devices to ensure that safe working practices are observed. Note: One of the two workers fell 10 stories when his descent rigging ran through his Sky Genie which became unsecured from the achorage divit on the building roof. A feasible and useful means for abatement, among other methods, would include: - To use a single point or two point suspension scaffold - To provide all necessary safety equipment and to enforce its use - To instruct workers in the hazards of window washing and in the proper use of all equipment. - To supervise the workers in the use of these equipment to ensure that safe work practices are observed.