OSHA Inspection: AERIAL WINDOW CLEANING, LLC

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,900 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 were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees    Location: 335 Greenwich St., New York, NY.    a) Employee (a window washer) was cleaning windows at the above location from inside, and had climbed outside without fall protection and fell 5 stories to the sidewalk below; on or about 3/3/2015.    Abatement note: feasible and useful method to abate the hazard is:  1. Clean exterior window surfaces from the inside of the building with employees feet placed firmly on the floor and window sill height is such to prevent the employee from falling out of the window.  If an extension pole is used, train employees on the proper inspection, assembly and usage in accordance with the International Window Cleaning Association, IWCA/ANSI I 14.1-2001, section 5.1 and 5.10.        2. If cleaning windows and/or working from the floor surface is not practical, protect employees from falling through the window opening by utilizing a personal arrest system, such as, but not limited to body belt with lanyard attached to a secure point of anchorage, in accordance with ANSI/IWCA I 14.1-2001, section 3.8 (Fall Protection) and sections 9.1.1, 9.2.2 and 9.2.3.      3. Instruct all employees regarding safe working procedures and proper use of safety equipment, in accordance with ANSI/IWCA I-14.1-2001, section 3.3 and 3.4