OSHA Inspection: PROPERTY MAINTENANCE SERVICES, INC.

Issued

Oct 15, 2008

Abate by

Oct 28, 2008

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $800 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 Panorama Towers
II, as follows:
a.At the roof top of the Panorama Tower II, a rope (horizontal life line)
was
installed on the parapet wall of the roof. The window cleaner walked on the
parapet wall tied off to the rope. The employer didn't provide a document
indicating the horizontal life line had been approved/certified by a
registered
professional engineer. The employee was exposed to a fall of up to 20 ft.
to the
roof level and 395 ft. to the concrete floor surrounding the building.
Reference: ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, Window Cleaning Safety, Section 9.1.11,
" A horizontal (rope) line may be used as an anchorage or may be a
fundamental
part of a fall arrest system. In all cases, horizontal lines shall be
designed by or
under the direct supervision of a registered professional engineer
experienced in
such designs.
b.Suspended work was allowed to be performed when it had not been
determined
that the building owner had provided, identified and certified anchorages
for
independent safety lines and primary support anchorage for rope descent
systems.
The employer had utilized as an anchor a plastic dairy crate with 300 lbs.
of
weights inside. The weights and plastic crate were on top of one small
dolly,
which the employee transported to each side of the roof. Around the
weights, the
window cleaner had two slings and a chain to keep the weights together.
On the
sling rings he had two carabiners, one for the safety line and the other
one for the
primary line to the window washer". These lines were over the parapet wall
of
the building which the employee used to descend down the face of the
building
to wash the windows. The Panorama Tower II height is 395 ft. 10 1/2 in. The
employer didn't provide a document indicating the above equipment/anchor
has
been approved/certified by a registered professional engineer.
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
owner has provided, identified and certified anchorages complying with
section
9 or 10."
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
registeredprofessional engineer for all loads that will be imposed in
accordance with section
9 and 17 of this standard."
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

Oct 15, 2008

Abate by

Oct 28, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $400 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 Panorama Towers
II, as follows:
a.The Plan of Service, also known as the work plan, was not onsite during
the
walkaround portion of the inspection. The employer failed to ensure that
the Plan
of Service includes the following information:
1.Identification of hazardous areas.
2.Drop zone.
3.Safety features.
4.Areas requiring public protection.
5.Operating agents when windows to be cleaned are located in areas where
workers may utilize suspended equipment or where the public may be exposed
to
overhead equipment operations.
6.Safe emergency recovery.
7.Anchorage points.
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."
b.The Emergency Recovery Procedures merely stated to use a cell phone.
Employees had been descending from Panorama Tower II to wash the outside of
the windows for at least two years.  One of the requirements mentioned in
the
employer's emergency recovery plan is to use a cell phone and call 911 if
they
are stranded. At the time of the inspection, the window washer couldn't
use his
cell phone because there was not any reception in that area.
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."
One feasible means of abatement would be to ensure that all requuirements
of the
ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, Window Cleaning Safety standard, are followed.

Issued

Oct 15, 2008

Abate by

Oct 23, 2008

Issued

Oct 15, 2008

Abate by

Oct 23, 2008