OSHA Inspection: STATE LINE LANDSCAPING

Issued

Nov 1, 2000

Abate by

Nov 6, 2000

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $375

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 employees
were exposed to the hazard of being caught in a excavation wall collpase:
a.Site - An employee was working in an excavation that was neither properly
sloped nor shored.
b.Site - A competent person was not available to conduct an inspection of
the
excavation, the adjacent areas, and protective systems prior to the start
of work
and as needed throughout the shift.
c.Site - Protection was not provided by placing and keeping excavated or
other
materials or equipment at least 2 feet.
d.Site - A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of egress was not
provided
in the excavation.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means of abatement are to:
provided a sloping
or shoring system; have a competent person conduct inspections of the
excavation, the adjacent
areas, and protective systems prior to the start of work and as needed
throughout the shift; keep
the spoils back at least 2 feet from the edge of the excavation; and
provide
a stairway, ladder,
ramp or other means of egress.  However, none of these activities need be
conducted if no
employees enter the excavation.