OSHA Inspection: SOUTHWESTERN SECURITY SERVICES INC.

Issued

Dec 3, 2001

Abate by

Dec 13, 2001

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 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 employees
were exposed to the conditions  listed below:
On or about July 6, 2001, Southwestern Security Services, Inc. located at
the
Wilson Plaza Bldg., Carancahua St., and the Federal Courthouse, Shoreline
Dr.,
both in Corpus Christi,TX.
Southwestern Security Services's guards were exposed to various types of
injuries
from  all hostile public and personnel visiting the courthouse.  Security
Guards
were assigned roaming post duties and have no ready way of calling for
outside
back-up assistance. Guards can not access local and/or federal
authorities for
back-up without going into the Federal Courthouse and/or Wilson Plaza
building
and using a pay phone. As well as, if tenants and/or contractor must
contact them
on heighten alert situations,i.e. bomb threats.  They must  contact them
by calling
the U.S.Attorney General's office in the Wilson plaza and/or contact
someone at
the Federal Courthouse and ask them to walk outside and relay the message
to the
roaming guard.  The latter situation requires someone to be in the U.S.
Attorney
Generals office to answer the phone. The Federal Courthouse is guarded 24
hours
a day , 7 days a week with a two man roaming post. There is no way to
contact
the guards on the afternoon and midnight shifts.
In the contract GS-07P-00-HHD-0056 (Jan 13, 2001) and in the Modification
PS02 (March 20, 2000) between GSA and Southwestern Security Services Inc.
It is  stipulated on page 18, on PS02;-- As required , the Contractor
shall furnish
two-frequency , portable, handi-talk radios capable of ensuring constant
and
uninterrupted transmission compatible on the same frequency as used by the
local
FPS, crystals, batteries, battery charger(s) and other related
accessories, as
described in Section J, Exhibit 1, Radio Equipment Requirements. Radio
Communications includes contractor availability for 24 hour continuous
contact.

Issued

Dec 3, 2001

Abate by

Dec 13, 2001

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

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 hand held service revolvers not functioning
properly.
On or about August 2, 2001, at the Federal Courthouse, appropriate and
ample
supplies of upkeep and maintenance equipment such as cleaning solvents,
lubricating oil, rods, brushes and patches and other normal maintenance
tools
were not provided by the contractor at the contractors expense per
contract GS--
07P-00-HHD-0056 page 23 awarded March 20, 2000 and Modification PSO2
signed on March 9, 2001, page 19.  Hand held service revolvers were not
maintained in a safe manner. Guards exposed to hand held service revolvers
not
firing properly. Subjecting them to no defense or hurt by the
unintentional action
of the firearm.  Hand held service revolvers were rusty and not maintained.

Issued

Dec 3, 2001

Abate by

Dec 28, 2001

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $1,500 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 employees
were exposed to the hazard of mishandling or misfiring a hand held service
revolver.
On or about July 6, 2001, Southwestern Security Services Inc. located at
the
Wilson Plaza Bldg. on Carancahua St. and the Federal Courthouse both in
Corpus
Christi TX. Guards were not afforded the 40 hours of firearms training
prior to
sending the employees to the firing range.

Issued

Dec 3, 2001

Abate by

Dec 20, 2001

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Dec 3, 2001

Abate by

Dec 20, 2001

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Dec 3, 2001

Abate by

Dec 28, 2001

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

Dec 3, 2001

Abate by

Dec 28, 2001

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

Dec 3, 2001

Abate by

Dec 28, 2001

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

Dec 3, 2001

Abate by

Dec 28, 2001

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $625 Reduced