OSHA Inspection: INTERNATIONAL CHIMNEY

Issued

Aug 7, 1992

Abate by

Aug 13, 1992

Penalty

Initial $875 · Current $500 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
fall hazards of two hundred (200) feet while inspecting the inner
walls of a chimney:
(a) Job site - At the Washington Navy Yard #116 chimney on
or about 7/8/92 employees were rewuired to rappel inside a
200 foot chimney using descent control devices (CMC Rescue
Harness, a RSI Rappeling Rack and miscellaneous carabiners)
attached to Blue Water No. 2 rescue rope.  In the event
of a component failure there was no secondary lifeline
independent to the primary suspension system to arrest a fall.
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Among others, one feasible and useful means of abatement
would be to use a separate fall arrest system (including
bodybelt, or full body harness; rope grab or similar
device; lifeline; and anchorage) all of which are
completely independent of the friction device and its
support system)), so that any failure in a friction
device, support seat (or harness), or support line, or
anchorage system to operate and quickly stop the employee's
fall.  Additional implementation of procedures and precautions
follows:
%%
* Descent control equipment will be used in accordance
with the instructions, warnings and design limitations
set by the manufacturer;
* Training for employees by qualified persons in the use
of the equipment before it is used;
* Inspection of equipment each day before use;
* Proper rigging, including sound anchorages and tiebacks
when counterweights, cornice hooks, or similar
non-permanent anchorage systems are used;
* All lines installed (such as by using knots, swages
or eye splices) when rigging descent control devices
shall be capable of sustaining a minimum of tensile load
of 5,000 pounds.
* Provisions are made for rescue;
* Ropes are effectively padded where they contact edges
of the building, ancharage obstructions, or other surfaces
which might cut or weaken the rope;
* Provisions are made for intermittent stabilization for
descent in excess of 130 feet.
%%