OSHA Inspection: OLIVER & COMPANY

Issued

2012-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-03-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $1800.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.850(a): Prior to permitting employees to start demolition operations, an engineering survey was not made, by a competent person, of the structure to determine the condition of the framing, floors, and walls, and possibility of unplanned collapse of any portion of the structure. Any adjacent structures where employees may be exposed were not also similarly checked. The employer did not have in writing evidence that such a survey had been performed:    (a) At the project on or about December 23, 2011, and at times prior thereto, prior to the start of demolition operations, a determination was not made of the condition of structure and the possibility of an unplanned collapse of any portion of the structure.  In addition, there was nothing in writing that such a survey had been performed.      The structure was an airplane hangar built circa 1928.  It was about 35 feet high, by 80 feet wide, by 100 feet long.  The exterior walls were constructed of 2 x 4 and 2 x 6 lumber.  The roof was shaped like an inverted V and supported by steel trusses.  The structure was to be converted into a museum.      Part of the conversion consisted of demolishing the existing roof sheeting, consisting of 1 x 6 lumber.  This sheeting was on the steel roof trusses between grid line 9 and grid line 12.  The sheeting was being removed because the roof trusses were deformed or bowed toward the east end of the structure.  The plan was to repair the existing deformed trusses.    While the sheeting was removed, the trusses shifted eastward and south side of the attic floor gradually collapsed over a period of a few minutes.  One employee was on the attic floor cutting and removing the roof sheeting above.  One employee was on the first level handing materials and straps up to the employee on the attic floor.  Another employee was on the first level doing the layout for the concrete block wall on the south side of the structure.  The employee that did the layout work used a scissors lift to rescue the employee on the attic floor.      The employer stated there was an evaluation and plan to ensure the structural integrity of the building once construction was completed, but there was no evaluation and plan to ensure the structural integrity of the building while the roof sheeting was demolished.       OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE    29 CFR 1926.501(a)(2): The employer failed to determine if the walking/working surface had the strength and structural integrity to support employees safely:    (a) At the project on or about December 23, 2011, and at times prior thereto, the employer failed to determine if the walking/working surface had the strength and structural integrity to support employees safely.    The structure was an airplane hangar built circa 1928.  It was about 35 feet high, by 80 feet wide, by 100 feet long.  The exterior walls were constructed of 2 x 4 and 2 x 6 lumber.  The roof was shaped like an inverted V and supported by steel trusses.  The structure was to be converted into a museum.      Part of the conversion consisted of demolishing the existing roof sheeting, consisting of 1 x 6 lumber.  This sheeting was on the steel roof trusses between grid line 9 and grid line 12.  The sheeting was being removed because the roof trusses were deformed or bowed toward the east end of the structure.  The plan was to repair the existing deformed trusses.    While the sheeting was removed, the trusses shifted eastward and south side of the attic floor gradually collapsed over a period of a few minutes.  One employee was on the attic floor cutting and removing the roof sheeting above.  One employee was on the first level handing materials and straps up to the employee on the attic floor.  Another employee was on the first level doing the layout for the concrete block wall on the south side of the structure.  The employee that did the layout work used a scissors lift to rescue the employee on the attic floor.      The employer stated there was an evaluation and plan to ensure the structural integrity of the building once construction was completed, but there was no evaluation and plan to ensure the structural integrity of the building while the roof sheeting was demolished.