OSHA Inspection: TOWER MAINTENANCE & CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Issued

May 7, 1992

Abate by

May 11, 1992

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $750

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 from an elevation:
(a)  On or about April 23, 1992, an employee working on a tower
erection site located 1 mile south and 2 miles east of Spencer,
South Dakota, was riding a tower section being raised by cable
and winch to a point approximately 120 feet above the ground,
exposing that employee to a potential fall hazard in the event
of a failure of the lifting system and the tower section falling
to the ground.
Feasible and acceptable methods of abatement to correct the
hazard would include:
1.  Lifting employees on a crane line, in an approved personnel
basket with approved safety equipment, i.e., safety belts and
lanyards and anti-two blocking on the crane line.  No employee
will be allowed to ride a tower section up.
2.  Physically ascending and descending the tower with the aid
of a ladder climbing device or attaching a cable system or
independent safety lines, used in conjunction with safety belts
or full body harnesses and safety lanyards, to the tower sections
before they are raised to provide the employee an attachment
point for a rope grab or other fall prevention device and provide
100fall protection.

Issued

May 7, 1992

Abate by

May 11, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced