OSHA Inspection: SUNBURST ADVENTURES, INC.

Issued

Sep 6, 2005

Abate by

Oct 24, 2005

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 the hazard of drowning by swimming through rough water to
remove a lodged
raft, working as whitewater rafting guides. Among other methods, one
feasible and acceptable
abatement method is to prohibit employees from intentionally entering the
water. This could be
accomplished by:
1) Removing lodged rafts with a casting rope.
2) Management personnel, including lead guides, must be trained/retrained
in hazard recognition
and avoidance of hazards associated with whitewater rafting.
3) Employees must be trained/retrained in the hazards associated with
whitewater rafting.
4) Management personnel, including lead guides, must be trained/retrained
in safe procedures
for dislodging rafts which have become lodged or hung-up on rocks and/or
other obstructions
on the river.
5) Management personnel must evaluate PFDs (lifejackets) to ensure that
PFDs in use meet the
United States Coast Guard approval for such use.
6) Management personnel must establish a safety and health program which
includes safe
operating procedures for whitewater rafting.