OSHA Inspection: DEFCON FORCE, LLC

Issued

Jun 14, 2017

Abate by

Jul 3, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,577 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.140(d)(2)(ii): (ii) Personal fall arrest systems are rigged in such a manner that the employee cannot free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m) or contact a lower level.  A free fall may be more than 6 feet (1.8 m) provided the employer can demonstrate the manufacturer designed the system to allow a free fall of more than 6 feet and tested the system to ensure a maximum arresting force of 1,800 pounds (8 kN) is not exceeded.  On April 19, 2017, at Zimmer Power Station, #10 Pulverizer, an employee was exposed to a fall and struck-by hazard when the personal fall arrest system being used by the employee in the work platform basket approximately 10 - 12 feet off the ground would cause the employee to strike the ground before the system was fully deployed.

Issued

Jun 14, 2017

Abate by

Jul 3, 2017

Penalty

Initial $4,780 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(3)(i)(G): Fork and attachment adaptation, operation, and use limitations;  The employer had inadequately trained the sit-down forklift operator on the use, and operation of the work platform basket attachment used by employees on April 19, 2017 to elevate an employee in a work platform basket to perform preventative maintenance on a Pulverizer.

Issued

Jun 14, 2017

Abate by

Jul 3, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,577 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.451(g)(1): Each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet (3.1 m) above a lower level shall be protected from falling to that lower level. Paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (vii) of this section establish the types of fall protection to be provided to the employees on each type of scaffold. Paragraph (g)(2) of this section addresses fall protection for scaffold erectors and dismantlers. Note to paragraph (g)(1): The fall protection requirements for employees installing suspension scaffold support systems on floors, roofs, and other elevated surfaces are set forth in subpart M of this part.  On April 19, 2017, at Zimmer Power Station, #10 Pulverizer, an employee was exposed to a 10 ft. fall hazard while in a work platform basket being raised by a sit-down forklift with the front of the work platform basket missing any fall protection and the PFAS system being worn by the employee would not have prevented the employee from striking the ground.

Issued

Jun 14, 2017

Abate by

Aug 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,577 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.451(g)(4)(i): Guardrail systems shall be installed along all open sides and ends of platforms. Guardrail systems shall be installed before the scaffold is released for use by employees other than erection/dismantling crews.  The guardrail system on the work platform basket was inadequate in that one open side of the work platform basket had a top rail of the chain that measured 30 inches in the middle, the lacking of a midrail and toeboard measured 1 1/4 inch in height.