OSHA Inspection: NATIONAL CLEANING CONTRACTORS

Issued

May 22, 1991

Abate by

Jun 20, 1991

Penalty

Initial $800 · Current $400 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 employees were
exposed to:  a fall hazard.
(a)  A fall to concrete from the roof 25 ft. above the ground.
At the northeast corner of the roof of the building owned
by Turley Martin Management, located at 901 N. 10th St.; an
employee was leaning over the roof edge and moving a roof
roller for a Sky Genie descent system and was not tied off
with a lifeline and a safety belt.
One feasible abatement method would be to have the employee
wear a safety belt attached to a lifeline and tied off to
a  permanent  part  of the roof structure capable of with-
standing a 5000 pound static load.

Issued

May 22, 1991

Abate by

Jun 5, 1991

Penalty

Initial $800 · Current $400 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 EMPLOYEES WERE EXPOSED TO:
A FALL OF UP TO 25 FT. TO A CONCRETE SURFACE BELOW CAUSED BY A FAILURE
OF THE SKY GENIE VARIABLE DESCENT SYSTEM DUE TO IMPROPER RIGGING.
A) EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN WINDOW CLEANING OPERTIONS AT A BUILDING
OPERATED BY TURLEY MARTIN MANAGEMENT, LOCATED AT 901 N. 10TH
ST., ST. LOUIS, MO. WERE OBSERVED EXPOSED TO THESE SPECIFIC HAZARDS.
1) THE ROOF ROLLER TO WHICH THE WORKING AND LIFELINE WERE RIGGED WAS
NOT PROPERLY TIED BACK. THE LIFELINE WAS USED TO TIEBACK THE ROOF
ROLLER. IN ADDITION, THE PORTIO OF THE LIFELINE USED TO TIEBACK THE
ROOF ROLLER WAS NOT RIGGED TO A FIXED ANCHORAGE POINT WHICH WAS
NOT RIGGED TO A FIXED ANCHORAGE POINT WHICH WAS PERPENDICUALR TO THE
BUILDING FACE, THEREBY NOT EFFECTIVELY SECURING THE OUTRIGGER IN A
FIXED POSITION IN EVENT OF TIPPING OVER THE BUILDING EDGE.
2) THE LIFELINE WAS RIGGED TO THE OUTRIGGER BEFORE BEING SECURED TO A
PERMANENT ANCHORAGE POINT, THEREBY NOT PROVIDING EMPLOYEES WITH TWO
INDEPENDENT FALL ARREST SYSTEMS.
3) PROVISIONS WERE NOT MADE FOR EMPLOYEE RESCUE IN EVENT OF DESCENT
SYSTEM FAILURE.
A FEASIBLE MEANS OF ABATEMENT MAY INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT NECESSARILY
LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
A) TIE BACK THE ROOF ROLLER WITH AN INDEPENDENT ROPE TO A PERMANENT
ANCHORAGE POINT, BOTH OF WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING A 5000
POUND STATIC LOAD, IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO ASSURE THAT THE OUTRIGGER
IS SECURED IN A FIXED POSITION.
B) RIG THE LIFELINE DIRECTLY TO A PERMANENT ANCHORAGE POINT CAPABLE OF
SUPPORTING A 5000 POUND STATIC LOAD, IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO ASSURE
THAT THE LIFELINES POSITION REMAINS FIXED IN EVENT OF APPLIED
DOWNWARD LOAD.
C) ASSURE THAT PROCEDURES, EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING RELATIVE TO EMPLOYEE
RESCUE ARE ADEQUATE FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE JOB BEING PERFORMED.