OSHA Inspection: G-M COOLING TOWERS, INC.

Issued

Dec 11, 2000

Abate by

Jan 8, 2001

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $2,100

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 falls from elevations and/or struck-by hazards:
On or about June 14, 2000, Mount Enterprise, Texas; employees constructing
the cooling
tower at the Tenaska Gateway Generating Station were permitted to work
while standing
on (at elevated positions) and near the towers Bentline components.  The
Bentline
components were unable to adequately support their weight, the employees'
work
activities and the existing environmental conditions.
Among other methods, feasible means of abatement include, but are not
limited to:
1)Use of accepted engineering practices to develop a specific erection
plan for the
Bentline components, addressing the need for adequate anchoring and
bracing of
the components throughout the course of erection.  The erection plan should
address issues including, but not limited to:
a)The determination and calculation of the maximum applied structural
forces from external sources and conditions, such as impact by material
handling equipment and wind/wind gusts;
b)The anchorage of the end diagonal braces to a structurally sound
structure,
such as the cooling tower's concrete basin;
c)The installation of stiffener bracing to prevent the end diagonal braces
from buckling at points along their length;
d)The installation of longitudinal diagonal bracing (temporary or
permanent)
as each successive Bentline is erected;
e)The specific number of end diagonal braces, anchor points, stiffener
braces, and longitudinal diagonal braces required, based on the calculated
structural forces;
f)The specific installation sequence of each end diagonal brace, anchor
point, stiffener brace, and longitudinal diagonal brace.
2)Ensure adequate training for all construction managers and crew members
on the
appropriate steps to be completed to comply with the specific erection
plan,
including methods for evaluating the adequacy of the plan for each stage of
construction and the steps to be taken prior to divergence from the plan.