OSHA Inspection: EVERGREEN CAISSONS, INC.

Issued

Nov 15, 2011

Abate by

Nov 16, 2011

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2):  The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his/her environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury:    a)  On or about July 11, 2011, and at times prior, employees were exposed to cave-in hazards because the employer did not sufficiently instruct employees in the recognition of unsafe conditions and ensure that they were able to determine if the ground they stood on at the edge of an approximately 16 feet deep caisson (trench) had the structural integrity to support them.  On July 11, 2011, an employee fell into a caisson when the ground he stood on next to the caisson opening collapsed because it had been undercut from sloughing and belling at the base.

Issued

Nov 14, 2011

Abate by

Nov 15, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(k)(2): Where a competent person found evidence of a situation that could result in a possible cave-in, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions, exposed employees shall be removed from the hazardous area until the necessary precautions have been taken to ensure their safety:    a)  On or about July 11, 2011, and at times prior, employees were exposed to cave-in hazards because the employer did not take precautions to remove employees that stood at the edge of an approximately 16 feet deep caisson (trench) which was sloughing and belling at the bottom of the drilled shaft.  On July 11, 2011, an employee was fatally injured when he fell into a caisson after the ground he stood on collapsed because it had been undercut from sloughing and belling.      OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE:      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 was free from recognized hazards which were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that, employees were exposed to cave-in hazards:    a)  On or about July 11, 2011, and at times previous, employees were exposed to cave-in hazards because the employer did not take precautions to remove employees that stood at the edge of an approximately 16 feet deep caisson which was sloughing and belling at the bottom of the drilled shaft.  On July 11, 2011, an employee was fatally injured when he fell into a caisson after the ground he stood on collapsed because it had been undercut from sloughing and belling.        Abatement:  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazard is to remove employees from the area when belling of the caisson has or is likely to occur until the caisson walls have been stabilized.

Issued

Nov 14, 2011

Abate by

Nov 15, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $2,975

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(7)(ii):  Each employee at the edge of a well, pit, shaft, and similar excavation 6 feet (1.8 m) or more in depth shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, fences, barricades, or covers:    a)  On or about July 11, 2011, and at times prior, employees who stood at the edges of caissons/shafts that were 16 feet deep or more were exposed to fall hazards because the employer did not provide sufficient means of fall protection.

Issued

Nov 14, 2011

Abate by

Dec 14, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $2,975

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.50(c):  In the absence of an infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physician, that is reasonably accessible in terms of time and distance to the worksite, which is available for the treatment of injured employees, a person who has a valid certificate in first-aid training from the U.S. Bureau of Mines, the American Red Cross, or equivalent training that can be verified by documentary evidence, shall be available at the worksite to render first aid:    a)  On or about June 11, 2011, and at times prior, the employer did not select and maintain a qualified person to provide emergency treatment of injured employees at the worksite on Wilson Mesa.  A response from the nearest trained medical personnel (Telluride/Placerville fire department) to this remote location took twenty minutes on June 11, 2011.