OSHA Inspection: MARIO SINACOLA & SONS EXCAVATING, INC.

Issued

Feb 8, 2006

Abate by

Feb 14, 2006

Penalty

Initial $5,000

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 free
from recognized
hazards that were causing, or likely to cause, death or serious physical
harm to employees.  On
or about October 17, 2005 at a construction site located at and/or near
the southwest corner of
Teel Parkway & High Shoals in Frisco, TX, the employer failed to implement
adequate
measures/procedures to ensure that personnel working near and or in close
proximity of earth
moving equipment, i.e., a Caterpillar 345C Excavator, were accounted for
prior to the
movement of the machine and/or its related components., i.e., boom/bucket.
A worker
installing an 8-inch water line in a trench approximately 4.5 feet deep
was fatally injured when
he was crushed/struck-by the bucket/boom assembly of the excavator and
pinned against the side
wall of the trench.
Among other means, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods to
correct this hazard are:
1.Develop and effectively implement procedures to ensure that all personnel
working near moving equipment are accounted for and positioned a safe
distance
away from the danger area of the machine and its related components prior
to
allowing it to be moved.
2.Develop a written job hazard analysis on the safe work practices of
installing
pipes/utilities in trenches/excavations and to include the roles and
responsibilities
of those individuals involved in this process.
3.Develop a method(s) that would effectively allow employees to remain in
constant
contact with one another during the installation of underground utilities
and/or
other various operations, more importantly in areas and/or instances where
visual
and oral communication is difficult and/or obsolete.
4.Appoint a safety monitor/signalman during the process of installing
underground
utilities to ensure workers do not access the work area and that all
personnel are
positioned a safe distance away from the danger area of the machine and its
related components prior to allowing a machine to be moved.
5.Develop and implement signals that are consistent and understood by all
personnel
and that only one signalman is utilized at a time.  In the event there is
a transfer
from one signalman to another, this action needs to be understood by all
parties
involved, including the original person giving the hand signals.