OSHA Inspection: STEVENS PAINTON CORP.

Issued

Nov 6, 1990

Abate by

Nov 15, 1990

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $650 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:
Workers, while preforming pile-driving operations on steel i beams 30'
in length x 10"x10"x0.5", using a lima 80 ton-rated crawler crane and
a gravity fall pine driver, were subjected to the hazards of broken
bones, amputations, lacerations, crushing, and possibly death when the
ground around the pile driven was flooded and washed out and the workers
were required to work in close proximity to the pile driver. The crane
was required to be repositioned repeatly to restore vertical alignment
of the pile driver and the pile being driven. The four workers were re-
quired and ordered to place their hands directly on the lower structure
members of the pile driver frame and to exert direct manual force. The
pile driver hammer was elevated and suspended for a drop. The crane's
control lever for the hammer was not rendered inoperable while the crane
operator used other controls to repostition the crane, boom, and pile-
driving hammer.
The hazards to workers involved in the driving of piles can be averted
by a program including, but not limited to:
1. Develop a formal plan for the driving of the piles.
The plan shall include safety, environment, yarding
of materials, pre-driving inspection of the site,
set-up of the pile driver, and emergency stop provi-
sions. It shall be clearly established under what
conditions work shall be stopped.
2. Use a crane equippied with two rigid horizontal
spreader beams that extend between the base of the
boom crane, and that are attached near the
bottom of the suspended pile driver. The combination of the crane boom
and the spreaders are expected to materially increase the stability of
the pile driver and minimize crew involvement in the positioning of the
pile driver over the being set and driven.
3. Clearly instruct the crane operator to render the
crane control that releases the hammer weight in-
operable when the crane, boom, and/or pile drivers
are being positioned over a piling, and when workers
are involved in the repositioning of the pile driver,
clamps, grab bars, and template.
4. When working in rain, wet, or flooding conditions,
pump surface water out of the immediate area where
the piles are being driven. Stablize the soil in
the area. Fill in holes and depressions, if ne-
cessary. If the soil is excessively soft and muddy,
use crushed stone, slag, or similar materials to
allow the workers safe footing.
5. Provide and use ropes, rigging, chains, etc., between
the base of the pile driver and the ground. Before
the pile is driven, use a maul to drive stakes into
the ground at the four corners of the pile location.
The pile driver can then be moved into place and rigg-
ing between the base of the pile driver frame and the
posts can be used to help hold the pile driver in place.
If workers hold the rigging line ends, they shall be
expected to be no closer than four feet from the pile
driver.
6. Use a knowledgeable employer representative that has
full "on-the'site, decision-making" authority. If the
conditions in no. 1 through No. 5 cannot be maintained,
the work shall be suspended until the required safe
conditions can be re-established.