OSHA Inspection: ACE SERVICES, INC.

Issued

Aug 28, 2009

Abate by

Sep 3, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,500

General-duty citation text

fall
protection system to be independent from the anchorage point for the
suspension
system.
(b) The vertical life line(s) and boatswains' suspension ropes were
attached to each other.
One 600 foot rope was doubled up and knotted to make two separate ropes.
One served
as the life line and the other rope as the suspension rope. The whole rope
was secured
to five (50 pound) steel weights placed in a mop bucket on wheels and then
tied back to
the elevator mechanical roof housing.
A feasible means of abatement would be to comply with American National
Standards
Institute (ANSI) and International Window Cleaning Association standard
IWCA I-14.1-
2001 Window Cleaning Safety, section 5.6.7 that requires boatswains'
chairs to be
equipped with and utilize an independent fall arrest system complying with
Section 3.8
and Section 9.2.2.
(c) The employer did not train each employee who erects, disassembles,
moves and
operates the scaffold, to ensure those erecting the scaffold use the
correct procedures, are
aware of the scaffold hazards and design criteria.
A feasible means of abatement would be to comply with American National
Standards
Institute (ANSI) and International Window Cleaning Association standard
IWCA I-14.1-
2001 Window Cleaning Safety, Section 5.6.2 and Section 5.7.2 that requires
employees
to be trained in the use and care of boatswains' chairs and rope descent
systems (RDS).
(d) Employee(s) did not inspect vertical life line and boatswains' support
rope before use,
and remove the defective rope from service, in that the rope outer
protective sheath was
abraided away exposing the internal rope structure that also exhibited
abrasion damage.
A feasible means of abatement would be to comply with American National
Standards
Institute (ANSI) and International Window Cleaning Association standard
IWCA I-14.1-
2001 Window Cleaning Safety, section 5.7.3 that requires all components of
the rope
descent system and safety devices to be inspected for damage before use,
and to removethem from service.
(e) Vertical life line and suspension ropes secured around the elevator
mechanical
housing on the roof were damaged and not protected from sharp edges and
abrasion.
A feasible means of abatement would be to comply with American National
Standards
Institute (ANSI) and International Window Cleaning Association standard
IWCA I-14.1-
2001 Window Cleaning Safety, section 14.5.5 that requires all ropes to be
protected from
contact with any surface that may abraid, sever, weaken or damage the
rope(s).
Certification, and documentation/evidence of abatement is required.
Certification of abatement is required by 29 CFR Part 1903 and is to be
submitted within ten (10)
calendar days after the abatement date.ment