OSHA Inspection: MID-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS

Issued

2000-05-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2000-05-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $600.00 · Current $600.00

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
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 fire and explosion hazards on, or about April 12, 2000 as a
result of striking a
natural gas line with a reamer while pulling cable and cable housing
through the ground.
Reasonable means of abating this hazard include, but are not limited to:
A site plan should be developed in accordance with the manufacturer's
literature prior
to commencing horizontal boring operations.
Physically expose all utility lines at the point where the boring or
reaming apparatus
crosses the utility and observe the boring or reaming apparatus when
crossing the utility
to assure adequate distance from the utility.
In situations where it is difficult or impossible to physically expose the
utility at the point
where the drilling or reaming apparatus crosses the utility, or in
situations where
exposing the utility could result in a hazard, the utility company should
be contacted and
the utility turned off prior to boring near the utility.
Abatement certification is required for this violation. The abatement
certification sheet is
enclosed with the citations.