OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN GLASS

Issued

2008-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2008-06-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $1400.00 Reduced

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 furnish employment and a place of employment which
was free from
recognized hazards for employees cleaning windows at the Buffalo Bill's
Resort & Casino, as
follows:
a.Suspended work was allowed to be performed when it had not been
determined
that the building had provided, identified and certified anchorages for
independent
safety lines and primary support anchorage for rope descent systems.  The
employer had utilized four metal pipes as anchorage but the pipes had not
been
approved/certified by a registered professional engineer.  Ropes for the
Rope
Descent and Personal Fall Arrest Systems were tied around the unsecured
pipes
that were lying in front of the doorways of the hotel rooms.  The ropes
were then
carried into an adjacent hotel room and tied around the toilet. These
anchorages
were used without certifying that the doorways and toilets could hold the
employees as they rappelled down the face of the hotel to wash the windows.
Reference:  ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, Window Cleaning Safety, Section 3.9,
Anchorages, "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."
AND, Section 5.7.17(a), Suspension Devices for Rope Descent Systems, "A
rope
descent system may be suspended from equipment that is transported from
building to building, providing that the design of the support apparatus
and the
part of the structure where it is placed has been approved by a registered
professional engineer for all loads that will be imposed in accordance
with section
9 and 17 of this standard."
b.Independent anchorages for personal fall arrest systems were not used by
the
employees while washing windows on the face of the building.  In four hotel
rooms the ropes for the Rope Descent and Personal Fall Arrest Systems were
tied
around an unsecured metal pipe lying in front of the doorway to each of
the hotel
rooms and then tied around a toilet in an adjacent hotel room.
Reference:  ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 - 2001, Window Cleaning Safety, Section 5.7.6,
Rope Descent Systems (RDS), "Operators of rope descent systems shall
utilize
and be safely secured to an independent fall arrest system complying with
section
3.8 and 5.7.4 and section 9.2"
c.A rope log recording the use of the lifelines was not provided when
requested.
Reference:  ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 - 2001, Window Cleaning Safety, Section
9.2.2(e), Personal Fall Arrest System, "Ropes shall be inspected according
toSection 5.7.16(d) and a means shall be provided by the employer to
identify
and
log the use of lifelines."
The employees were exposed to a fall of up to 14 stories (15 floors) to
the concrete slabs
below.  One feasible means of abatement would be to ensure that all
aspects of the
ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, Window Cleaning Safety, standard are followed.

Issued

2008-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2008-06-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $625.00 · Current $438.00 Reduced

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 the place of employment was free from
recognized hazards
for employees cleaning windows at Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino, as
follows:
a.Employee training did not include job conditions other than working from
the
roof of buildings.  Employees were and had been, rappelling from the
windows
of the hotel rooms from 5/5 to 5/9/08 and were not properly anchored.
Employees were descending from the top of the 15 story building while
washing
windows using a Rope Descent System (RDS).
Reference:  ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001; "Window Cleaning Safety", Section
5.7.2; Rope
Descent Systems (RDS).  "Employees shall be trained in the use and care of
rope
descent systems before they are permitted to use such equipment.  Training
shall include
but not limited to understanding the manufacturer's instructions,
inspection of
components, accepted rigging practices, identifying anchorages,
descending, fall arrest
requirements, rescue consideration and a full understanding of safe
working conditions
considering as a minimum, correct rigging, rope use, inspection and care
the effects of
wind on suspended operations." AND Section 3.4.1, Training, Instruction and
Supervision, "Employers and employees shall be proficient in safety
working procedures
and proper use of equipment."
b.The employer did not provide manufacturer's instructions for all of the
employee
equipment when requested.
Reference:  ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001; "Window Cleaning Safety", Section 3.4.3,
Training, Instruction and Supervision, "Manufacturer's instructions shall
be provided
to the users for all equipment utilized in the performance of their
tasks."  AND Section
14.1.3, Rope Descent Systems (DRS) Specifications, "Individual components
of a RDS
without specific instructions for their use shall be prohibited."
One feasible means of abatement is to follow the requirements of ANSI/IWCA
I-14.1-
2001; "Window Cleaning Safety".

Issued

2008-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2008-06-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $625.00 · Current $438.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Nevada Revised Statute 618.375(1):  Duties of employers.  The employer
failed to furnish
employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized
hazards that were
causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees:
The employer failed to furnish employment and a place of employment which
was free from
recognized hazards for employees cleaning windows at the Buffalo Bill's
Resort & Casino, as
follows:
a.The Plan of Service, also known as the work plan, was not onsite during
the
walkaround portion of the inspection and had not been provided to the
Buffalo
Bill's Resort & Casino.  Employees had been cleaning windows from the 15th
floor for approximately four and one half days.
Reference:  ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, Window Clean Safety, Section 1.7, Plan
of Service, "A written plan developed by the window cleaning contractor or
qualified person shall be provided that will inform the building owner or
their
operating agents when windows to be cleaned are located in areas where
workers
may utilize suspended equipment or; where workers are exposed to falls and
other
known hazards or; where the public may be exposed to overhead equipment
operations."  Abated During Inspection 5/19/08.
b.The Emergency Recovery Plan, part of the Plan of Service and the Written
Safety
and Health Program, did not include emergency recovery from windows.
Employees were and had been rappelling from the windows of the hotel rooms
to wash the outside of the windows from 5/5-5/9/08.  The plan had rooftop
recovery only.
Reference:  ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, Window Clean Safety, Section 1.8,
Emergency Recovery, "In the event of power failure, equipment failure or
disability of any nature, means and procedures shall be established and
provided
for the safe emergency recovery of persons working from suspended equipment
or other types of installations."
c.The work plan did not include, that prior to making a descent, the
requirement
to inspect the building exterior, take appropriate measures as need to
prevent
impairment of the structural integrity of the RDS or associated fall
protection
rigging, and secure padding when used.
Reference:  ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, Window Cleaning Safety, Section 5.7.5,
Rope Descent Systems (RDS), "Prior to making a descent, the building
exterior
shall be visually inspected and where necessary, shall be taken to ensure
that
building features, such as sharp edges of parapets, window frames, open
projected windows and cornices or overhangs cannot impair the structural
integrity of the RDS or associated fall protection rigging.  When used,
padding
shall be secured to prevent its dislodging from the surface to be
protected.  Thesemeasures shall be incorporated into the work plan in
accordance with section 1.7
of this standard."
The employees were exposed to a fall of up to 14 stories (15 floors) to
the concrete slabs
below.  One feasible means of abatement would be to ensure that all
aspects of the
ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, Window Cleaning Safety, standard are followed.

Issued

2008-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2008-06-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $625.00 · Current $438.00 Reduced