OSHA Inspection: ROAD AND RAIL SERVICES, INC.

Issued

2021-10-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-02-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $13653.00 · Current $6827.00 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 in that employee(s) were exposed to a fall hazard.  a) Road and Rail Services, Inc. located at 24500 County Rd. 165 Marysville, OH 43040, A & B Pad: On and preceding June 10, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employee(s) engaged in the removal and installation of railcar "C deck" bridge plates were protected from falls. Motor vehicles are loaded on to all levels of tri-level railcars which are positioned in rows of seven with bridge plates installed in the gap between the railcars. The bridge plates allow the vehicles to be driven from the first railcar in the row to the last railcar in the row or any position in between. Employees install and remove the bridge plates onto/from the 13 foot 4 inch "C deck" which is the top deck of a tri-level railcar while standing on the "B deck" bridge plates. The "B Deck" bridge plates are 7 feet 6 inches or more above ground level and have unprotected edges on the long side of the plates. The employees standing on "B Deck" take the bridge plate from a worker on ground level, use both hands to lift the 40 plus pound, 56" x 22" bridge plates overhead, crouch down to install the plate onto the "C-deck" and engage a hinge pin. The process is reversed for the removal of bridge plates which are handed down to a worker on the ground level as they are removed. During the removal and installation process, no form of fall protection is utilized by the employees standing on the "B-deck" bridge plate. The employer's policy for employees working on the railcars is to always use three points of contact and a spotter when walking/working on the bridge plates and accessing the ladders to ascend/descend the different levels of the railcars. The employer has not provided any means of fall protection during the bridge plate installation or removal process nor can the employees maintain three points of contact with any part of the railcar while they are using both hands to grip and pin the bridge plate for installation or removal. The following condition exposes employees to falls of 7 feet 6 inches or more.