OSHA Inspection: AUSTRALIS AQUACULTURE, LLC

Issued

May 31, 2007

Abate by

Jun 26, 2007

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 in that the
employer did not
determine if the working surface on which employees were standing had the
strength and
structural integrity to support employees safely. The  employees were
exposed to a falling hazard
while removing the plastic matrix from biofilter tank "D". Employees were
standing on the
plastic matrix they were removing when the plastic collapsed causing the
employees to fall 12
feet to the bottom of the tank. Among other methods, feasible and
acceptable corrections to this
hazard would be to ensure that the plastic matrix is adequately supported
to hold the weight of
employees, the use of fall protection systems, and/or the use of
mechanical lifting equipment to
support the employees while removing the plastic matrix.

Issued

May 31, 2007

Abate by

Jun 26, 2007

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $500