OSHA Inspection: HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP, INC.

Issued

Feb 17, 2011

Abate by

Feb 22, 2011

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer does not
furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment
which are free from
the recognized hazards of falling from elevation, by not utilizing ladders
in accordance with the
manufacturer's recommendations, which are causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical
harm to employees:
On or about November 23, 2010, and at times prior thereto, employees of
Healthcare
Services Group were using a 4-foot step ladder to hang privacy curtains in
a nursing
home. One of the employees was standing one rung from the top of the
ladder. This
placed the employee's feet at approximately 3 feet above the floor in
violation of the
manufacture's recommendations. The manufacturer's sticker on the left side
of the ladder
states: NOTICE HIGHEST STANDING LEVEL: 1 ft. 11 in." This practice exposed
the
employee to the hazard of falling approximately 3 feet to the concrete
floor
below.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means of abatement to correct
this hazard
are to: Provide the employees with a ladder or working platform tall
enough for the
employees to comply the manufacturer's recommendations.
Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the
abatement date, the
employer must submit documentation describing the actions it is taking to
establish,
communicate, and implement written procedures to ensure that employees are
utilizing
step ladders in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Issued

Feb 17, 2011

Abate by

Feb 22, 2011

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,500 Reduced