OSHA Inspection: CRYSTAL BRIGHT WINDOW CLEANING

Issued

Dec 22, 2009

Abate by

Feb 10, 2010

Penalty

Initial $14,000 · Current $7,000 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 were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to fall hazards resulting from an improperly rigged/ anchored
Sky Genie descent
control chair system, an improperly rigged/anchored parapet clamp descent
system and a roof
top attendant without fall protection:
(a) Location - 1 Cabot Road, Medford, MA:
On or about 10/29/09, an employee was exposed to fall hazards of 50 feet
while washing
windows with an improperly rigged/anchored Sky Genie descent control chair
system and
roof rolling unit.
(b) Location - 1 Cabot Road, Medford, MA:
On or about 10/29/09, an employee was exposed to fall hazards of 30 feet
while washing
windows with an improperly rigged/anchored parapet clamp.
(c) Location - 1 Cabot Road, Medford, MA:
On or about 10/29/09, an employee was exposed to fall hazards of 50 feet
while serving
as a roof top attendant without fall protection.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct these
hazards include:
Assigning a competent person to each job site and ensure he/she inspects
the set-up,
rigging, anchoring, use and all other aspects of the roof roller and
parapet clamp
equipment prior to and during each use, as well as anticipated activities
and safeguards
of the roof top attendant.  Ensuring that the Sky Genie descent control
chair system
and/or its roof roller unit and parapet clamp are anchored or tied back to
a secure
anchorage points on the building as required by ANSI/IWCA STD
I.14.1-1.2001 and the
manufacturers' instructions. Ensuring that the suspended workers have life
lines secured
to an appropriate independent building component.  When scheduling work to
be
performed, ensure that a competent person conducts a complete on-site
inspection and
hazard assessment for rigging, anchoring and operating the Sky Genie
descent control
chair system/roof roller unit and parapet clamp for employee use while
washing
windows. Provide the roof top attendant with personal fall protection and
roping to safely
perform the task.