OSHA Inspection: BABCO COMMUNICATIONS

Issued

May 15, 2001

Abate by

May 19, 2001

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $750

General-duty citation text

Title 21 VSA Chapter 3, Sub chapter 5, Section 223a of the Occupational
Safety and Health Act
of 1970:  The employer did not furnish employmnent 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, the wire rope and cables on the Ford Boom/Bucket
Truck (1983) were not
inspected and maintained according to the guidelines set forth in the Wire
Rope Users Manual
(1983).
LOCATION: Killington Ave. Rutland, Vt.
VIOLATION: The wire rope, 5/8ths inch diameter, 856 Pierce Corel main
drive cable, used to
raise and lower the boom/bucket, was not maintained in accordance with the
Wire Rope Users
Manual (1983).The wire rope was allowed to be in use past the normal life
span of the wire rope
and a break occurred causing injury to an employee.The wire rope was a
right regular lay and
was completly broken resulting in a free-fall of the boom/bucket.
Inspection
of the wire rope
revealed several areas that were corroded and breakage of strands had
occurred. One loop was
detected, as a strand had pulled completly away from wire rope lay. Among
other methods, one
feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard would be to
regularly inspect, all wire
ropes and cables, for wear and tear, broken wires and corrosion as
recommended by the Wire
Rope Users Manual(1983).