OSHA Inspection: BOB SMITH WINDOW CLEANING

Issued

Jul 16, 2009

Abate by

Oct 30, 2009

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,890 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
with out proper training were exposed to fall hazards when working on or
around suspended
window cleaning equipment with multiple deficiencies in design, approval,
set-up, maintenance,
and work practice:
(a)Bob Smith Window Cleaning & 131 S. Barstow St. in Eau Claire, WI:  On
6/16/09, a suspended window cleaning employee sustained a fall of
approximately
6 stories from the roof level to the ground level of an office building
while
attempting to descend on the Barstow St. side of the building.  Multiple
deficiencies were noted with the equipment and work practices utilized
such as,
but not limited to, the following:
(1)The portable rolling outrigger system was not engineered, designed, and
approved by any manufacturer for use in window cleaning operations.
(2)The load supporting roof parapet had not been structurally verified by a
registered professional engineer as to its capacity to hold the intended
load
with a factor of safety not less than 4 to 1.
(3)Suspended window cleaning work was allowed to be performed without
ensuring that identifiable and certifiable anchorage points were in place
for
the safety line, the outrigger, and the boatswain's chair descent system.
(4)Horizontal movement of a suspended window cleaner was allowed with
a system which was not designed and approved for such a use.
(5)The portable rolling outrigger system contained wheels at the fulcrum
point which rested on the building parapet.
(6)Personal fall arrest systems were not completely worn/assembled prior to
approaching the point of suspension.
(7)The descent rope (working line) and fall arrest rope (vertical safety
line)
were not independent systems as they were both directly connected to the
portable rolling outrigger.
(8)Procedures to rescue a suspended window cleaner were not in place.
(9)Equipment and components with defects were not immediately removed
from service such as, but not limited to:
a)Descent rope (working line)
b)Fall arrest rope (vertical safety line)
c)Personal fall arrest system harnessesd)Personal fall arrest system rope
grab and lanyard
e)Descent system boatswain's chair
f)Portable rolling outrigger system
(10)Employees were not trained in the proper inspection of each piece of
equipment provided.
(11)Employees were not trained as to become proficient in safe working
procedures and proper use of equipment such as, but not limited to:
a)Personal fall arrest system
b)Descent system
(12)The employer was not qualified in the instruction and supervision of
safe
and proper working procedures and practices for suspended window
cleaning.
(13)Manufacturer instructions were not provided to the users of all
equipment
utilized in the performance of their suspended window cleaning tasks.
(14)The descent rope (working line) was not approved for use by the
manufacturer of the descent control system.
(15)The descent rope (working line) was affixed to the portable rolling
outrigger through knots.
(16)The fall arrest rope (vertical safety line) was not approved for use
by the
manufacturer based on type of rope utilized with the rope grab device.
(17)The fall arrest rope (vertical safety line) was undersized based on the
manufacturer's specifications for the rope grab device.
(18)The service life of the rope grab device exceeded the manufacturer's
specifications for maximum intended service life.
(19)The descent and fall arrest ropes (working and vertical safety lines)
were
not permanently marked or tagged with the length and diameter, date of
manufacture, and date placed in service.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF
ABATEMENT WOULD BE TO COMPLY WITH THE GUIDELINES OUTLINED IN
THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:
*AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE/INTERNATIONAL
WINDOW CLEANING ASSOCIATION (ANSI/IWCA) I-14.1-2001 "WINDOW
CLEANING SAFETY"
*SKY GENIE VARIABLE DESCENT SYSTEM TECHNICAL MANUAL
*ELK RIVER, INC. INSTALLATION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ELK RIVER ROPE GRABS
Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item.

Issued

Jul 16, 2009

Abate by

Oct 30, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,350 Reduced

Issued

Jul 16, 2009

Abate by

Jul 21, 2009