OSHA Inspection: CONSTRUCTION SPECILAISTS INC

Issued

Jun 2, 1999

Abate by

Jun 7, 1999

Penalty

Initial $2,500

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was free from
recognized hazards
that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that
employees were exposed to the conditions listed below:
a)  Corner of Marshall and Fort Streets, Plaquemine, LA. On or about 18
Jan 99, the
employer did not locate all the underground utility lines prior the start
of asphalt
reclamation from Marshall St. The employer was using a CMI Model RS-500B
Reclaimer/Stabilizer, s/n 526-332 to grind/chop the existing asphalt
roadway when the
"cutter" struck and ruptured a 4 inch gas line that crossed under Marshall
St. The gas
line was approximately 14 inches below the existing asphalt surface of the
roadway. The
rupture resulted in the operator of the equipment being exposed to the
hazards and
injuries related to fire.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this
hazard would
be to:
1. In addition to the standard procedures for locating utility lines,
utilize a probe (metal
detector, ultrasonics, etc) to find utility lines that may not be
identified on existing
drawings maintained by city agencies or utility companies.