OSHA Inspection: TRANBERG CONSTRUCTION INC

Issued

Apr 15, 2011

Abate by

Apr 18, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,160 · Current $1,296 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(c)(2):  A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of egress was not located in a trench excavation that was 4 feet (1.22m) or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet (7.62m) of lateral travel for employees:    (a)  Tranberg Construction, at 70 S Hooker St, Denver, CO 80219:  On March 30, 2011, the employer did not provide a means for egress from a trench that was greater than four feet in depth.  The trench was 5.3 feet deep on the west side and 7 feet on the east side.  The means of entry and egress were to climb the ends of the trench and the spreaders on the trench box.  This condition exposed the employees to an engulfment hazard in the event of a cave-in.    Abatement Certification is required for this item (see enclosed Abatement-Certification Letter).

Issued

Apr 15, 2011

Abate by

Apr 16, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(j)(2):  Protection was not provided by placing and keeping excavated or other materials or equipment at least 2 feet (.61m) from the edge of excavations, or by the use of retaining devices that were sufficient to prevent materials or equipment from falling or rolling into excavations, or by a combination of both if necessary:    (a)  Tranberg Construction, at 70 S Hooker St, Denver, CO 80219:  On March 30, 2011, the employer did not provide protection by placing and keeping excavated soil at least 2 feet from the edge of the trench.  The spoil pile at this job site was located at the edge of the trench on the northeast corner.  This condition exposed employees to a cave-in hazard while working in the trench.    Abatement Certification is required for this item (see enclosed Abatement-Certification Letter).

Issued

Apr 15, 2011

Abate by

Apr 18, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,620 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(e):  Employees were permitted to be underneath loads handled by lifting or digging equipment:    (a)  Tranberg Construction, at 70 S Hooker St, Denver, CO 80219:  On March 30, 2011, the employer permitted employees to work inside a trench box that was suspended from a backhoe.  The trench box was not safely secured by chains connected to hooks on the trench box which were missing coupling pins on three of the hooks.  Employees were working inside a trench to replace a sewer line.  This condition exposed the employees to a struck-by hazard.    Abatement Certification is required for this item (see enclosed Abatement-Certification Letter).

Issued

Apr 15, 2011

Abate by

Apr 16, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(d)(2):  Manufactured materials and equipment used for protective systems were not used and maintained in a manner that would have prevented employee exposure to hazards:    (a)  Tranberg Construction, at 70 S Hooker St, Denver, CO 80219:  On March 30, 2011, three of the hooks on the top of trench box materials were missing the second coupling pin.  While in use at the jobsite, the trench box was suspended by the hooks from a backhoe.  This condition exposed employees to a struck-by hazard.    Abatement Certification is required for this item (see enclosed Abatement-Certification Letter).

Issued

Apr 15, 2011

Abate by

Apr 18, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,620 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(a)(1):  Each employee in an excavation was not protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.652(c):    (a)  Tranberg Construction, at 70 S Hooker St, Denver, CO 80219:  On March 30, 2011, the employer did not protect each employee from a cave-in by using an adequate protective system while conducting trenching operations to install a new sewer line.  The trench had vertical walls and measured approximately 5.3 feet deep on the west side and 7 feet deep on the east side.  The trench was approximately 5.5 feet wide on the west side and 4.5 feet wide on the east side.  The trench was approximately 9 feet 8 inches in length.  The excavation lacked an adequate protective system in that the trench box was missing two vertical sides that would have provided protection on the west and east sides of the excavation.  This condition exposed employees to a cave-in hazard.    (b)  Tranberg Construction, at 70 S Hooker St, Denver, CO 80219:  On March 30, 2011, the employer did not protect each employee from a cave-in by using an adequate protective system while conducting trenching operations to install a new sewer line.  The trench had vertical walls and measured approximately 5.3 feet deep on the west side and 7 feet deep on the east side.  The trench was approximately 5.5 feet wide on the west side and 4.5 feet wide on the east side.  The trench was approximately 9 feet 8 inches in length.  The excavation lacked an adequate protective system in that the trench box was only 2 feet wide.  While in use, this resulted in gaps between the trench box and the walls of the trench.  Due to an encumbrance on the inside of the trench, the gap on the north side of the trench was 0.9 feet and the gap on the south side of the 1.7 feet.  These gaps allow for lateral movement of the trench box.  This condition exposed employees to a struck-by hazard.    Abatement Certification is required for this item (see enclosed Abatement-Certification Letter).

Issued

Apr 15, 2011

Abate by

May 20, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(c)(2)(iii):  Manufacturer's specifications, recommendations, and limitations, and manufacturer's approval to deviate from the specifications, recommendations, and limitations were not in written form at the jobsite during construction of the protective system:    (a)  Tranberg Construction, at 70 S Hooker St, Denver, CO 80219:  On March 30, 2011, the employer did not have the tabulated for the protective system on the jobsite used by employees for installation of a new sewer line.  This condition exposed the employees to crushing hazards.    Abatement Certification is required for this item (see enclosed Abatement-Certification Letter).