OSHA Inspection: WIRELESS HORIZON, INC.

Issued

Sep 19, 2014

Abate by

Jun 16, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $70,000

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 SECTION (5)(a)(1): The employer did not 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 employees in that employees were exposed to crushing hazards during the demolishing of the old communication tower:          The employer is failing to protect employees from the hazard of falling or being crushed when working on or around any site where a gin pole is being used at heights.  This hazard was most recently documented when employees were working from and around a communication tower under demolition, where a gin pole was being prepared to lower tower sections and components to the ground at a significant height and didn't have proper identification markings to guide employees to the correct load chart and proper use.      Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable means of abating this condition include marking the gin pole properly as outlined in the TIA standard TIA-1019-A, section 6.2.6

Issued

Sep 19, 2014

Abate by

Jun 16, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 SECTION (5)(a)(1): The employer did not 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 employees in that employees were exposed to crushing hazards during the demolishing of the old communication tower:            The employer is failing to protect employees from the hazard of falling or being crushed when working on or around any site where a gin pole is being used at heights.  This hazard was most recently documented when employees were working from and around a communication tower under demolition, where a gin pole was being prepared to lower tower sections and components to the ground at a significant height and did not a have a written rigging plan based on the scope of the proposed demolition construction work.     Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable means of abating this condition include developing a written rigging plan as outlined in the TIA standard TIA-1019-A, section 2.2

Issued

Sep 19, 2014

Abate by

Jun 16, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.850(a): Prior to permitting employees to start demolition operations, an engineering survey was not made by a competent person of the structure to determine the condition of the framing, floors, and walls, and possibility of unplanned collapse of any portion of the structure, including adjacent structures where employees may be exposed. The employer did not have in writing evidence that such a survey was performed:     The employer is failing to conduct an engineering survey prior to the start of demolition projects to protect employees from falling or being crushed.  This violation was most recently documented on March 25, 2014, at a communication tower demolition site, where the employer had not conducted an engineering survey to determine the structural integrity of the communication tower being demolished prior to allowing employees to climb the tower or attaching a gin pole to the side for the lowering of tower sections being removed. This requirement is consistent with the industry standard located at ANSI/TIA section 6.2.6

Issued

Sep 19, 2014

Abate by

Jun 16, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1436(b)(3)(ii): For derricks that are not permanently installed, the load chart must be readily available at the job site to personnel responsible for the operation of the equipment:         The employer is failing to provide an appropriate load chart to protect employees from falling or being crushed.  This violation was most recently documented on March 25, 2014, when employees were preparing the gin pole to demolish a communication tower by lowering tower sections and components to the ground, but did not know the gin pole load rating nor have a load chart for the gin pole.  This requirement is consistent with the industry standard located at ANSI/TIA-1019-A, section 3.5 for gin pole(s) being used at work sites.

Issued

Sep 19, 2014

Abate by

Jun 16, 2015

Penalty

Initial $56,000 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.251(a)(6): Each day before being used, and during use, where service conditions warrant, the sling and all fastenings and attachments were not inspected for damage or defects by a competent person, and damaged or defective slings were not immediately removed from service:    The employer is failing to protect employees from the hazard of falling or being crushed by not conducting an inspection of wire rope slings in use.  This violation was most recently documented on March 25, 2014, when a wire rope sling was in use attaching a gin pole to a communication tower without being inspected for damage and/or defects prior to use nor each day before use by a competent person.

Issued

Sep 19, 2014

Abate by

Jun 16, 2015

Penalty

Initial $56,000 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.251(c)(9): Slings were not padded or protected from the sharp edges of their loads:      The employer is failing to protect employees from the hazard of falling or being crushed by not providing protection for wire rope slings attached over sharp edges.  This violation was most recently documented on March 25, 2014, when a wire rope sling being used to connect a gin pole to a communication tower failed, due to being wrapped around the communication tower steel angle leg without being protected from sharp edge of leg.  This requirement is consistent with the manufacturer's (American Rigger's Supply Inc.) catalog operating practices, page 10, item numbers 9 and 10.