OSHA Inspection: RICHARD BOYD PROFESSIONAL WINDOW CLEANING

Issued

Apr 17, 2001

Abate by

Apr 20, 2001

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $750 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 inherent to the window cleaning industry:
Location: 440 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y.
On or about March 30, 2001
An employee was observed cleaning windows on the 6th floor of a 16 story
building,
while standing on a wet/slippery window sill/ledge, in order to clean the
outside of the
windows without using any means of fall protection.  The employee was
exposed to a
fall of approximately 78 feet to the concrete sidewalk below.  Among other
methods, one
feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to establish,
enforce and comply
with the Safety Requirements for Window Cleaning stipulated by the
American
Society
of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) - ASME A39.1-1991.  Methods of acceptable
safe
procedures for window cleaning are, but not limited to, the following:
1.Train and supervise employees in the proper use of all equipment used,
to ensure safe work practices are observed.
2.Instruct and require window cleaners to clean windows from inside the
building without extending more than one arm beyond the window sash.
3.Require the use of fall protection (such as a body harness, lanyard,
lifeline
and/or window cleaners belts and anchors), if cleaning from the inside of
the building is not feasible.