OSHA Inspection: OUELLETTE PLUMBING & HEATING CORP.

Issued

Mar 22, 2006

Abate by

Mar 26, 2006

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 hazard of being crushed:
a.Storage Trailer - Employees were exposed to the hazard of being crushed
by a
rack system which was being loaded with copper pipe.  The rack had been
improperly constructed in that:
1)  Single thru-bolts were used to assemble some of the horizontal and
vertical members within the rack, instead of "T" or gusset connections,
as specified by the rack component manufacturer.  Using the single bolts
allowed the connections to rotate around the bolt.
2)  The horizontal braces were connected with single bolts, instead of "T"
or gusset connections, as specified by the rack component manufacturer.
Using the single bolts allowed the connections to rotate around the bolt.
3)  Diagonal braces were not used to stabilize the frames.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement would
be to follow the
requirements and specifications of the rack component manufacturer.
(The cited equipment must be tagged in accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(i).)

Issued

Mar 22, 2006

Abate by

Mar 26, 2006

Penalty

Initial $1,250