OSHA Inspection: VRATSINAS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Aug 5, 2004

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $4,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
VCC, as a controlling employer, did not furnish employment and a place of
employment free
from recognized hazards that were causing, or likely to cause, death or
serious physical harm
to the workers on site.
On June 30, 2004, at a construction site located at and/or near 1101
Melbourne Rd. in
Hurst, TX, a worker was fatally injured when the boom-supported elevating
work platform
he was operating, extended to a height of approximately 25 feet, went over
the edge of a
drop-off.  The drop-off measured 18.75 inches in height.  The utilization
of the boom lift at
and/or near this drop-off created a tipping hazard of the equipment.  The
worker fell
approximately twenty-five (25) feet onto the concrete surface below him.
Among other
methods, some feasible and acceptable methods to correct this hazard are:
1.Maintaining safe distances from drop-offs, holes, ramps, and other
hazards
to
ensure safe travel.  This can be accomplished by utilizing practices such
as,
but not limited to:
a.Use of barriers and/or similar devices placed at a safe distance
away from and parallel to the drop-off edges to act as a warning
device to the operators of the lift.
b.Erecting/building a temporary working surface to eliminate the
drop-off edges that may exist in the supporting surface of the
equipment.
c.Establish a policy that requires additional personnel, i.e., a
spotter, to assist in directing the operator around areas of drop-
offs, holes, barriers, and/or other obstructions.
2.Develop and implement a company policy for the use of boom lifts to
ensure
compliance with ANSI/SIA A92.5-1992 Boom-Supported Elevating Work
Platforms and with the Operators & Safety Manual per model of the aerial
platforms being utilized.