OSHA Inspection: GENERAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Issued

Dec 10, 2004

Abate by

Feb 1, 2005

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $315 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Minn. Stat. 182.653 subd. 2:  The employer did not furnish to each
employee, conditions of
employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards which
caused or were
likely to cause death or serious injury to employees:
Employer did not provide fall protection for employees who are working on
top of the
fire trucks, which is 8 feet above the ground level.
Abatement Guidelines:
1) Personal fall arrest systems when stopping a fall, shall:
a)Limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 900 pounds (4 kN) when
used
with a body belt (effectively limiting it to a 2-foot free fall distance);
b)Limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds (8 kN) when
used with a body harness;
c) Be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet
(1.8 m),
nor contact any lower level;
d) Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration
distance
an employee travels to 3.5 feet (1.07 m); and,
e) Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy
of an
employee free falling a distance of 6 feet (1.8 m), or the free fall
distance
permitted by the system, whichever is less.
2)Personal fall arrest systems shall be inspected prior to each use for
wear, damage and
other deterioration, and defective components shall be removed from
service.
3)Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall
be independent
of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and capable of
supporting
at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per employee attached.
4)Dee-rings and snaphooks used on personal fall arrest systems must have a
minimum
tensile strength of 5,000 lb. (22.2 kN), and must be proof-tested to a
minimum tensile
load of 3,600 pounds (16 kN) without cracking, breaking, or taking
permanent
deformation.
5)Snaphooks must be sized to be compatible with the member to which they
are connected
to prevent unintentional disengagement of the snaphook by depression of
the snaphook
keeper by the connected member, or shall be a locking type snaphook
designed and used
to prevent disengagement of the snaphook by the contact of the snaphook
keeper by the
connected member.  As of  January 1, 1998, only locking type snaphooks
shall be used.
6)Each employee must be attached to a separate lifeline and lifelines must
be protected
against being cut or abraded.
7)Personal fall arrest systems and components subjected to impact loading
shall be
immediately removed from service and shall not be used again for employee
protection
until inspected and determined by a competent person to be undamaged and
suitable for
reuse.le

Issued

Dec 10, 2004

Abate by

Dec 20, 2004

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $420 Reduced

Issued

Dec 10, 2004

Abate by

Jan 7, 2005

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $315 Reduced

Issued

Dec 10, 2004

Abate by

Jan 7, 2005

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $315 Reduced

Issued

Dec 10, 2004

Abate by

Dec 20, 2004

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $420 Reduced

Issued

Dec 10, 2004

Abate by

Jan 7, 2005

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $420 Reduced

Issued

Dec 10, 2004

Abate by

Dec 27, 2004

Penalty

Initial $150 · Current $105 Reduced