OSHA Inspection: EARLY TIMES CHIMMEY SWEEPING

Issued

Dec 21, 1995

Abate by

Dec 28, 1995

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

General-duty citation text

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:
a)  Employees who work on roofs at heights exceeding 6 feet above ground
level
were not protect from the hazards of falling.  On June 30, 1995 an employee
working on a roof 25 1/2 feet above the ground fell from the roof while
sealing
the chimney flashing.
b)  Hook ladders were provided on each truck, but there was no policy
regarding
their required use nor was their usage enforced.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods of abatement to
correct
this hazard are to:
1)  Develop and implement a fall protection plan that includes: hazard
assessment,
competent person requirements, use of hook ladders, establishment of safe
roof
conditions such as wind, moisture, temperature, etc., when and how roofs
should
be accessed, limitation of the time and number of employees to be on a
roof, and
employee training.
2)  Use of and enforcement of hook ladders on steep pitch roofs as
indicated in
section 5.4.2 of the Successful Chimney Sweeping Manual.  A lanyard could
be
attached to the hook ladder.
3)  Design a collapsible platform that attaches to hook ladders or ridge
hooks.
4.  Require employees to wear shoes with soft crepe or gum soles as
indicated in
section 4.7.2 and 5.4.2 of the Successful Chimney Sweeping Manual.g