OSHA Inspection: ELCO STEEL CO. INC.

Issued

Aug 8, 2000

Abate by

Aug 11, 2000

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

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:
a)  On or about May 23, 2000, and prior to that time employees performing
roof decking and
associated steel erection operations were exposed to fall hazards in
excess of 40' due to failure
of the personal fall arrest horizontal lifeline systems, in that
manufacturer(s) working loads were
exceeded on the horizontal lifeline system, the horizontal lifeline system
did not have a safety
factor of two for breaking strength, and the lifelines' attachment points
were not protected from
abrasion.
Among other abatement methods to correct this hazard, one acceptable
method is to ensure
that the design and implementation of horizontal lifeline personal fall
arrest
system is in
accordance with recognized industry practice of installation which include
the following:
1.  The design, installation, and use of a horizontal lifeline system
shall be performed under the
supervision of a qualified person and with design criteria ensuring a
safety factor of two on the
system and all components.
2)  Reduction factor determinations shall be made during wire rope cable
and synthetic rope
utilization with knots or where bent around structures.
3)  Lifelines anchored around "H" Beams, "I" Beams, bar joists or similar
structures must be
protected against cutting or abrasion.
4)  Horizontal lifeline material manufacturer's safe working load shall
not be exceeded.
5)  Horizontal lifeline geometry and angle of sag must be calculated to
determine forces to be
exerted on the system.
6)  The horizontal lifeline maximum arresting forces for harness
utilization must be calculated
and shall not be exceeded.
7)  Elongation and deceleration calculations must be determined allowing
for obstruction
clearance.

Issued

Aug 8, 2000

Abate by

Aug 11, 2000

Penalty

Initial $6,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced