OSHA Inspection: CATSKILL VILL FD

Issued

Dec 31, 2007

Abate by

May 13, 2008

General-duty citation text

NYSLL  Article 2 Section 27(a)(3)(a)The employer did not furnish
to each of its employees, employment and a place of employment
which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are
likely to cause death or serious physical harm to its employees
and which will provide reasonable and adequate protection to the
lives, safety and health of its employees.  In applying this
paragraph, fundamental distinctions between private and public
sector employment have been recognized."
a) Catskill Village Fire Department- 1.The employer failed to
implement sufficient controls and safeguards necessary to
adequately protect its  employees from the hazard of being
assaulted by fellow employees  during the performance of their
assigned work duties.
2.The above hazard is clearly recognized by the employer.
This hazard is recognized by New York State which has enacted
legislation creating a new Section  27-b of State Labor Law that
requires public employers to develop and implement programs to
prevent and minimize  assaults and homicides.
3. Severe physical and psychological injuries or death could
reasonably result from  employees being assaulted .
4. Reasonable and adequate methods to abate this hazard may
include, but are not limited to, the following:
The development and implementation of a Work place Violence
Prevention Program which would include the following elements :
1.A risk assessment performed by the employer and authorized
employee  representatives.
2.A list of the risk factors found.
3.The methods used to prevent violent incidents and initial
and annual training on workplace violence prevention measures.
The employer may consider the following in the development of a
WPV program:
1. A list of prohibited activities that are considered WPV.idered