OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN LANDSCAPING, LLC

Issued

May 26, 2011

Abate by

May 31, 2011

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,500 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 contacting lower levels or other obstructions in a fall:
On or about April 19, 2011 at 75 North Quaker Lane in West Hartford,
employees were allowed
to use a full body harness with a six foot lanyard and a 42 inch
deceleration device with a 56
inch D-ring height while working in an aerial lift at elevations varying
from 4 feet to 25 feet,
approximately, which would allow employees to strike the aerial lift truck
cab and body, the tree
itself, the boom arm, the garage, and the ground itself if employees fell
from the aerial lift.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to provide and require the use of a restraint device that would require
the employee's feet to
remain firmly on the floor of the basket and thereby prevent the employee
from falling out of
the bucket.  For other forms of abatement, reference ANSI/ASSE
Z359.1-2007, paragraphs
7.1.1 and 7.1.