OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN BRIDGE PAINTING CO INC

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Penalty

Initial $800 · Current $750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  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 in that employees were exposed to:
On August 21, 1985, and on several dates during the inspection,
employees were exposed to the hazards of falls, and death, while
working on aluminum scaffold picks suspended under a bridge.
The ends of the aluminum scaffold picks rested on 9/16" (estimated)
diameter steel rods formed into a u-shaped frame (bridle) with hooks
on each end.  The bridles were hooked over a 7?16" diamater wire rope
cable that was stretched and tensioned with a com-a-long, the entire
length of the bridge.  The scaffold system was slid along the cables
as the work progressed.
Particular concerns include the hazards of:
a) The aluminum picks were not secured to the u-shaped bridles at every
end, making it possible for them to slide off.
b) The hooks formed in the ends of the bridles and placed over the
suspension cables were not closed, or moused, to prevent them from
being dislodged.
c) The suspension cables were tensioned with a (3) ton com-a-long no
dynamometer was used to determine if proper tension was achieved,
making over tensioning possible.
d) The suspension cables were spliced in several location using a simple
(reef knot) square knot with wire rope clips on each tail or dead end
and no thimbles were used.
e) Two separate anchor points at the ends of the suspension cables were
made with wire rope slings (chokers) that were too short to go around
the bridge rockers, and so (2) slings (chokers) were joined together
by (marrying) equivalent to a square knot, in order to gain the
needed length, shackles should have been used.
Specific elements of the abatement plan shall include but are not
limited to the following:
A) Management Controls:
1) The employer shall train his employees in accepted safe rigging
practices and procedures as described in Handbook of Rigging for
Construction and Industrial Operations by W. E. Rossnagel, P.E.,
Mcgraw Hill Book Co., New York, Library of Congress Catalog Card
#63-19770, or Rigging Manual for Ironworkers, Washington, D.C.,
Library of Congress Catalog #IW 116M 5-79-18M or Rigging Manual by
W.E. Dickie P.E., Construction Safety Association of Ontario, Toronto
Canada M5C2A5. The training shall be repeated as frequently as
necessary to maintain management and worker proficiency and
compliance with the procedures.
2) Management and workers shall inspect all rigging and appurtenances
prior to use and during use to insure proper techniques and procedure
are being used.
B) Accepted rigging procedures and techniques:
1) Inspect and insure all aluminum picks are secured to the bridles,
using lashing or other approved methods
2) Mouse or close the hooks on the bridles using lashing, or a
shackle tack welded to the steel rod.
3) When tensioning the cable, use a dynamometer so proper tension
allowing for wind shear can be achieved.
4) Splice the suspension cables using an eye in each end, with
thimble at each wear point, and the proper number and spacing of
wire rope clips
5) When extending the length of slings (chokers) use shackles with
the pins moused in each eye.

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Penalty

Initial $800

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Penalty

Initial $700

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Penalty

Initial $800 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Penalty

Initial $800 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $750

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $6,000 Reduced

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $6,000 Reduced

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986

Issued

Jan 14, 1986

Abate by

Jan 17, 1986