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 employees were exposed to hazards of a fall: At the facility, in the Trim area of Plant 4, employees were using a back brace on a metal step ladder as a step. The back braces were designed as non-weight bearing members and might fail or break under the weight of the employees, exposing them to the hazards of a fall. There was a sticker on the back brace of one of the ladders which said "Not a Step". Among other methods, acceptable and feasible abatement methods to correct this hazard are as follows: 1) Develop and enforce a work rule that employees should not step or stand on the back braces of the step ladder. Ensure that employees are properly trained in the rule. 2) Provide employees with step ladders which were designed with weight bearing members on both sides. Disclaimers: The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA. The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases. The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an appropriate abatement method.