OSHA Inspection: CON-TECH CARPENTRY, INC

Issued

Aug 7, 2003

Abate by

Aug 12, 2003

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

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 struck-by hazard of an unplanned collapse:
a)  At Lot #255, on or about July 10, 2003, three employees were exposed
to a struck-by
hazard caused by the unplanned collapse of approximately 20 trusses.  The
trusses were
approximately 40 feet long, 12 feet in height, and composed of yellow pine
which gave
each one a weight of approximately 200 pounds.  Three framing carpenters
were
installing and temporarily bracing these trusses in an west to east
direction.  When
placing the twenty-seventh truss on the top plate the temporary bracing
failed
and 20 of
the 27 trusses collapsed striking one employee on the back causing serious
injury.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is to
ensure that
the temporary bracing methods as outlined in HIB-91, Summary Sheet,
Commentary and
Recommendations for Handling, Installing and Bracing Metal Plate Connected
Wood
Trusses, are followed.  Another feasible method of abatement would be to
follow the
recommendations of the diagrams provided by Con-Tech Building Components.
DISCLAIMER:
a)  The employer is not limited to the abatement method(s) suggested by
OSHA.
b)  The employer is responsible for selecting and implementing an
effective abatement
method.
Abatement certification and abatement documentation is required for this
violation.
The
documentation should include written verification of abatement, applicable
measurements or
monitoring results, and photographs or videos which you believe will be
helpful.  The abatement
certification sheet is enclosed with the citation(s).