OSHA Inspection: EAGLE MARINE SERVICES, LTD.

Issued

Oct 5, 1990

Abate by

Apr 1, 1993

Penalty

Initial $360 · Current $360

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
radio frequency burns to the hands and arms, as well as the potential of
discharging sparks that could cause a "startle reaction" and resulting
fall or dropping of a tool:
a) Longshoremen were exposed to these hazards while working on and
around vessels at Terminal 5, Port of Seattle, such as the "Westwood
Belinda".
The preferred method of abatement of the hazard would be the relocation
(anticipated to be accomplished in the next few years) of the radio
transmitting towers which are causing the problem. Among other methods,
feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct the hazard in the
interim are:
The utilization of certain work practices and employee training to
include grounding of the container spreader beam before workers make
contact with it. Establishing a ground may be accomplished using a
variety of means. It may be sufficient to simply hang an extended
chain from the spreader beam, which will make contact with ground
before the employees contact the beam. A more definite ground could
be achieved by actually applying a grounding cable to the container
spreader beam or basket each time the beam comes back to load or
unload. Additionally, all employees, including maintenance employees,
should be instructed not to come into contact with the spreader beams
until the load has been placed on the ground or deck, thus grounding
out prior to employee contact.
Personal protective equipment: In addition to the fleece-lined rubber
gloves, workers should wear long-sleeved shirts, and safety glasses in
addition to their hard hats to prevent the cable from possible
contacting the face and eyes.
The installation of some type of insulating material between the D-ring
of the spreader beam and the hook on the cone baskets so as to break the
current flow between them. Thereby eliminating the RF burn hazard
resulting from making contact with the cone basket.