OSHA Inspection: NFTA POLICE DEPT RAIL DETAIL

Issued

Aug 29, 2012

Abate by

Nov 26, 2012

General-duty citation text

NYSLL Article 2, Section 27-a.3.a(1):  The employer did not furnish to
each of its employees,
employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized
hazards that are causing
or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to its employees
and which will provide
reasonable and adequate protection to the lives, safety or health of its
employees.  In applying
this paragraph, fundamental distinctions between private and public
employment have been
recognized.
a)The employer did not keep the workplace free of a recognized hazard to
which
employees of that employer were exposed. In the NFTA Police Department
offices, employees were not protected from pieces of plaster falling from
the
edges of an upper ceiling, through a drop ceiling, into the first floor
office space
used regularly by employees.  Pieces of plaster up to 12in by 12in by
3/4in have
fallen from around the edges of the upper ceiling through the drop ceiling
into
work areas, most recently on 5/29/12. This exposes employees to the hazard
of
being struck by pieces of plaster falling about 25ft. There are no OSHA or
PESH
standards which address this specific hazard.
The hazard was recognized. Large pieces of plaster falling into work areas
are
obvious hazards to employees.  Also, the Police Chief stated he has been
aware
of the issue and stated that the employer has come up with a plan for
abatement.
The implementation of this plan is being expedited due to the most recent
incident, although no protective measures had been put in place at the
time of the
inspection.
The hazard was likely to cause death or serious physical injury including,
but not
limited to: contusions, concussions, lacerations, etc. as a result of
pieces of
plaster falling from the upper ceiling, through the drop ceiling into the
workplace
and striking employees. While the drop ceiling has prevented some smaller
pieces
of plaster from reaching the floor, pieces of plaster up to 12in by 12in
by 3/4in
have fallen from around the perimeter edges of the upper ceiling, piercing
the
drop ceiling and falling into work areas.  Pieces of plaster large enough
to fall
through the drop ceiling have fallen 3 times in the past year, most
recently on
5/29/12.
Reasonable and adequate abatement methods are readily available to
eliminate the
hazard. Feasible means of abatement include, but are not limited to,
placing
netting across the open areas above the drop ceiling to catch any pieces
of falling
plaster or repairing and/or replacing damaged plaster in affected areas.
At the
time of the inspection, the Police Chief stated that the NFTA Engineering
Department already has a plan which will abate the hazard. Only the
perimeter
edges of the plaster ceiling had been affected at the time of the
inspection. The
center of the upper ceiling was intact. The employer representative stated
that
they have been advised that the natural expansion and contraction of the
building
is what caused the plaster to fall from around the edges.

Issued

Aug 29, 2012

Abate by

Oct 15, 2012

Issued

Aug 29, 2012

Abate by

Oct 1, 2012

Issued

Aug 29, 2012

Abate by

Sep 17, 2012