OSHA Inspection: ALL-BRITE CLEANING SERVICE

Issued

Jan 6, 2003

Abate by

Jan 9, 2003

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,500

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 falling while utilizing a descent control
device to wash windows:
(a) Location - 40 Speen Street, Framingham, MA:
On or about 08/09/02, an employee was working from a seatboard system,
utilizing a
descent control device called a "Rack" which was hung from a single 1/2"
braided rope
tied back to the framework for the A/C units.
Among other means, feasible means of abatement would be to:
1. Train employees in the use of Sky Genie Seatboard and descent control
devices
including but not limited to, the "Rack".
2. Ensure a separate fall arrest system (full body harness, ropegrab or
similar device; life
line anchorage (all of which are independent of the friction device,
support seat (or
harness) so that any failure in a friction device, support seat (or
harness) support line or
anchorage system will not effect the ability of the fall arrest system to
operate and
quickly stop the employee's fall; and
3. Ensure that all ropes are effectively padded where they contact edges
of the building,
anchorage,obstructions, or other surfaces which might cut or weaken the
rope.
4. Inspect ropes, descent equipment, and Sky Genie Seatboards each day
before use; and
5. Ensure proper rigging, including sound anchorages and tie backs, in all
cases with
particular emphasis on providing tiebacks when outrigger beams along with
counterweights or cornice hooks, or similar non permanent anchorage
systems are used;
and,
6. Ensure that all lines installed, (with knots, swages, eye splices, or
similar methods
with rigging descent control devices), are capable of sustaining the
tensile loads imposed.
A tensile load strength of 5000 pounds is considered adequate.