OSHA Inspection: SERWAS WINDOW CLEANING SERVICE, LLC

Issued

Jan 25, 2019

Abate by

Feb 25, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,293 · Current $6,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(12)(ii): Each employee using a rope descent system 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by a personal fall arrest system.    a. Employees using rope decent systems were not protected from falls due to improperly set up and improperly used personal fall arrest systems, in that the personal fall arrest systems did not meet the requirements created by the manufacturers or the standards outlined in 29CFR 1910.140.

Issued

Jan 25, 2019

Abate by

Feb 25, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(b)(2)(ii): The employer did not ensure rope decent systems were used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, warnings, and design limitations or under the direction of a qualified person.  a. Employees were exposed to falls while working from rope decent systems when they were not following the manufacturer's instructions for use, in that the Versabeam/E-Z Hook was being used on the northeast corner at a building located at 111 North Main Street, Oshkosh, WI with the system set in the upper bolt holes on a parapet that was less than 30 inches in height.

Issued

Jan 25, 2019

Abate by

Feb 25, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.140(c)(12): Anchorages used to attach to personal fall protection equipment must be independent of any anchorage used to suspend employees or platforms on which employees work.  Anchorages used to attach to personal fall protection equipment on mobile work platforms on powered industrial trucks must be attached to an overhead member of the platform, at a point located above and near the center of the platform.  a. Employees were working from Rope Descent Systems at the jobsite located at 111 N. Main St., in Oshkosh, WI, did not have their lifelines tied to independent anchors.

Issued

Jan 25, 2019

Abate by

Feb 25, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.140(c)(20): Ropes, belts, lanyards, lifelines, and harnesses used for personal fall protection must be protected from being cut, abraded, melted, or otherwise damaged.    a. At the jobsite, located at 111 N. Main St., in Oshkosh WI, employees were using lines as part of their Rope Decent Systems and Personal Fall Protection Systems that were exposed to abrasion when they were ran around the corner of the building.

Issued

Jan 25, 2019

Abate by

Feb 25, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.140(c)(22): Personal fall protection systems must be worn with the attachment point of the body harness located in the center of the employee's back near shoulder level.  The attachment point may be located in the pre-sternal position if the free fall distance is limited to 2 feet (0.6 m) or less.  a. At the jobsite, employees were exposed to fall hazards while washing windows, in that they did not utilize their fall protection equipment correctly.  Employees would position their Goblin Rope Locks below their seat while connected to their Pre-sternal D-Ring on their body harness which would allow a free fall distance of greater than 2 feet.

Issued

Jan 25, 2019

Abate by

Feb 25, 2019

Penalty

Initial $4,376 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(13)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee was protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, travel restraint system or personal fall arrest system when work was being performed less than 6 feet (1.6m) from the roofs edge.    On and about July 25, 2018, an employee working as a tender on the roof, less than six feet from the edge of the U.S. Bank building, was exposed to falls greater than 4 feet from the roof to lower levels when his fall arrest system was not used correctly.