OSHA Inspection: MARCO WINDOW CLEANING, INC.

Issued

Aug 20, 2008

Abate by

Sep 16, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970; The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from
recognized hazards
which were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in
that, employees
were exposed to falls in excess of 40 feet while performing window
cleaning operations from
rope descent systems:
a)  On or about July 7, 2008, employees were exposed to falls in excess of
40 feet while
performing window cleaning operations on manual boatswain's chairs
utilizing rope descent
systems due to the following deficiencies:
1. The life lines in use for the fall arrest systems were not attached to
an
independent anchor point.  The life line and working line for the
boatswain's
chair were attached to the same point on the mobile, counterweighted
outrigger
device.
2. Employees were not using full body harnesses as part of their personal
fall
arrest systems.  Employees were using seat-type, recreational/sport
harnesses.
3. Employees were utilizing ascender devices (CMC-Gibb's Model Ascender)
as a rope grab device as part of their personal fall arrest systems.  This
device
is not approved for this type of use according to the manufacturer.
4. The mobile, counterweighted outrigger devices in use were custom built
and
were not designed and approved for use by a registered professional
engineer.
5. The mobile, counterweighted outrigger devices in use were not tied back
to
certified anchorages on the building with a rope equivalent in strength to
the
suspension rope.
6. Employees were cleaning areas that were outside their reach by swinging
the boatswain's chair scaffold from side to side to reach these areas.
Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable method to correct these
hazards is to ensure
that rope descent systems, mobile counterweighted outrigger systems, and
fall arrest systems
are installed and used in accordance with ANSI/IWCA I-14-2001, Window
Cleaning Safety.
Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for
this item
(see enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").

Issued

Aug 20, 2008

Abate by

Aug 28, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $400 Reduced