OSHA Inspection: CLIFFHANGERS JANITORIAL SERVICES, INC.

Issued

Jul 27, 2006

Abate by

Aug 2, 2006

Penalty

Initial $625 · Current $313 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 serious fall hazards:
Jobsite located at Bushnell on the Park Building, 100 Wells Street,
Hartford, CT: Employees
of Cliff Hangers Janitorial Services, Inc., performing window washing
activities on the exterior
of this 10 story building were using rope descent systems consisting of
SALA lanyards, Sky
Genie boards and descent device racks. Niether the suspension systems nor
the lifeline systems
were adequately anchored to the building structure.
A.Grey Rope System:  Both the primary descent rope and the fall arrest
rope had been tied
back to sheet metal roof vents. The carabiners securing the ropes around
the vents had
not been closed.
B.Orange Rope System:  Both the primary descent rope and the fall arrest
rope had been
tied back to the same anchorage point on a roof mounted chiller unit.
Among other methods the following are feasible and acceptable means of
abating the hazards:
A.Ensure that all tiebacks are attached to certified anchorages that have
been identified as
capable of sustaining a 5000 pound minimum load in any direction that the
load may be
applied.
B.Ensure that descent ropes and fall arrest rope are secured to
independent achorage points.