Fall Hazard Prevention took center focus at Zamastil Exteriors of Wonder Lake, IL when OSHA cited the company with seven serious violations. These violations include one willful and one repeat violation. Zamastil was inspected in July and October 2012. Proposed fines total $87,010.
Zamastil’s repeat violation occurred in July 2012. OSHA cited the company for failing to provide fall protection. In October 2012, an inspector observed violations of an aerial lift which caused Zamastil to incur another citation for failing to provide fall hazard prevention practices. This second citation was a willful violation. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements.
Five serious violations involved overloading and improperly using an aerial lift, failing to provide proper lanyard tie offs to workers in the aerial lift, exposing workers to electrical shock by neglecting to provide proper ground fault protection. Failing to follow fall hazard prevention principles led to other citations such as using a ladder that did not extend 3 feet above the landing surface.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has initiated an aggressive fall hazard prevention awareness campaign. Information can be accessed at the agency’s fall hazard web page at http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls. OSHA suggests the following basic safety procedures to prevent falls.
• Select appropriate fall hazard prevention systems.
• Use proper construction and installation of safety systems.
• Supervise employees properly.
• Train workers in the proper selection, use, and maintenance of fall protection systems.
Kathy Webb, OSHA’s area director in Aurora, IL states when working from heights, such as roofs, ladders and scaffolds, employers must plan projects to ensure that the job is done safely, provide the proper equipment and train workers. According to the latest statistics released by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls are the leading cause of death among construction workers.