OSHA Inspection: BURKLEY ENTERPRISES, INC.

Issued

May 10, 1994

Abate by

May 13, 1994

Penalty

Initial $225 · Current $225

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 who were
exposed to the hazard of falling from a suspended "seat board" descent
system should that
seat board system fail:
a) Sable Park Building #5 Jobsite:  Employee using a "seat board"
suspension system
while cleaning windows was exposed to a fall of about 4 to 5 feet to the
ground below
in that no safety belt/lifeline system was in use, on or about 04/15/94.
ANSI/ASME A39.1a-1988 and ASME A39.1-1987,Safety Requirements for Window
Cleaning, Chapter 6-2, specifies that "Anyone suspended by a boatswains's
chair shall
be provided, and shall use, a safety belt or harness and a lifeline with
a breaking
strength of 5400 pounds or better."
b) Sable Park Building #5 Jobsite:  Employees cleaning windows on a three
story
office building possessed a home made seat board which lacked reinforcing
cleats
underneath and was equipped with a webbed belt secured only by one small
wood
screw, and a safety belt which had damaged eyelets and was secured
through a rough
cut hole in the belt material, on or about 04/15/94.
ABATEMENT NOTE: ANSI/ASME A39.1-1987 Chapter 3, requires that the
employer provide their window cleaning employees with safety equipment
and devices
conforming to the requirements of A39.1-1987 and that such equipment be
maintained
in a safe condition.