OSHA Inspection: EXECUTIVE WINDOW CLEANING & HIGH REACH SPECIALIST

Issued

Aug 31, 2005

Abate by

Oct 3, 2005

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $375

General-duty citation text

Nevada Revised Statute 618.375(1):  The employer failed to furnish
employment and a place of
employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or
were likely to cause
death or serious physical harm to his employees:
The employer failed to ensure that place of employment was free from
recognized hazards, as
follows:
a.Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, window cleaning operation, two employees
were using
anchor points not approved and designed for a minimum 5000 pounds or 4-to-1
safety factor.  Metal pipes, 3" in diameter, 7 feet long, Schedule 40,
were used by
employees to tie off the boatswain's chair work line and the personal
safety lifeline.
Reference: ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 - 2001, "Window Cleaning Safety", Section 3.9
and Section
9.1.1 (*):  Building owners and window cleaning contractors shall not
allow suspended work
to be performed unless it has been determined that the building has
provided,
identified and
certified anchorages complying with Section 9 or 10 for: independent
safety lines; tie-backs;
parapet clamps and cornice hooks; primary support anchorages for powered
and manual
boatswain's chairs; primary support anchorages for rope descent systems or
lifelines.  (*)
Anchorages shall be capable of sustaining a 5000 pounds minimum load or
4-to-1 safety factor,
whichever is greater, in any direction that a load may be applied.
b.Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, window cleaning operations, employees were
allowed
to use a manual boatswain's chair where the height of suspension exceeded
75 feet
above grade.  The Gold Coast tower was approximately 105 feet in height.
Reference:  ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 - 2001, "Window Cleaning Safety", Section
5.6.5:  Manual
swinging scaffold and boatswain's chairs may be used for window cleaning
operations only
where windows cannot be accessed safely and practicably by other means and
where the height
of suspension does no exceed 75 feet above grade or a building set back
unless the use of tackle
with an automatic brake is employed.
c.Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, window cleaning operations, employees were
swaying
the boatswain's chair around the rooms overhang wall to clean two windows
from
the same drop down point.
Reference:  ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 - 2001, "Window Cleaning Safety", Section
5.6.9:  No window
cleaner shall attempt to clean any surface beyond his reach.  Swinging,
swaying or any other
maneuver to increase the work area shall be prohibited.
d.Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, window cleaning operations, a written
service plan
was not developed and readily available to the building owner, window
cleaners, and
emergency and enforcement authorities.
Reference:  ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 - 2001, "Window Cleaning Safety", Section
1.7:
A written plan
developed by the window cleaning contractor shall be provided that will
inform the building
owner or their operating agents when windows to be cleaned are located in
areas where workersmay utilize suspended equipment or; where workers are
exposed to falls or; where the public
may be exposed to overhead work.  The plan shall include among its
conditions the identification
of hazardous areas, drop zones, safety features and areas requiring public
protection.
One feasible and acceptable method of abatement would be to ensure that
the requirements of
ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 - 2001 are followed which were specifically developed for
employee safety
during window cleaning operations.