OSHA Inspection: Z TREE SPECIALISTS INC.

Issued

2012-09-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-10-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4200.00 · Current $6600.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(a): Safety-related work practices were not employed to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts, when work was performed near or on equipment or circuits which were or could be energized:    a) Z Tree Specialist Inc. 1869 Lippincott Road - On or about March 29, 2012, employees were performing tree trimming operations near energized 13.2 kV overhead lines without employing electrical safety-related work practices to enable them to prevent injurious electric shocks when exposed to potential direct or indirect electrical contacts.    ABATEMENT NOTE: One method of feasible abatement would be but is not limited to conducting a job hazard analysis for each worksite to provide the employees with a complete understanding of the related hazards. Safety-related work practices could include identifying techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment, identifying clearance distances specified in 1910.333(c), and specific procedures while working near exposed energized or de-energized parts.

Issued

2012-09-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-10-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3): When work was to be performed near overhead lines, the lines were not de-energized and grounded, nor were other protective measures provided before work was started:    a) Z Tree Specialist Inc. 1869 Lippincott Road - On or about March 29, 2012, employees were performing tree trimming operations near energized and ungrounded 13.2 KV overhead lines without any means of protection from inadvertent contact with the live overhead lines.

Issued

2012-09-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-10-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)(i)(A)(1): When an unqualified person was working in an elevated position near overhead lines with voltages to ground rated at 50 kV or below, the location was not such that the person and the longest conductive object he or she could contact would not come closer to any unguarded, energized overhead line than 10 feet (305 cm):    a) Z Tree Specialist Inc. 1869 Lippincott Road - On or about March 29, 2012, an employee was performing tree trimming operations near energized 13.2 KV overhead lines while using a 12 feet, 2 1/2 inch long wire rope lanyard.

Issued

2012-09-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-10-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4200.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.332(b)(1): Employees were not trained in and familiar with the safety-related work practices required by 1910.331 through 1910.335 that pertained to their respective job assignments:  a) Z Tree Specialist Inc. 1869 Lippincott Road - On or about March 29, 2012, employees were performing tree trimming operations near energized 13.2 KV overhead lines without receiving the training and related familiarization for electrical safety-related work practices that are necessary while performing these activities.  ABATEMENT NOTE:  One feasible means of abatement would include but is not limited to training each employee in skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment, clearance distances specified in 1910.333(c), and safety procedures while working near exposed energized or de-energized parts.

Issued

2012-09-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-10-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3000.00 · Current $2400.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i): Employees working in areas where there were potential electrical hazards were not using electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body to be protected and for the work to be performed:    a) Z Tree Specialist Inc. 1869 Lippincott Road - On or about March 29, 2012, employees were conducting tree-trimming operations near energized 13.2 KV overhead lines without using appropriate electrically rated protective equipment such as a face shield, insulated gloves, insulated boots, and a hard hat in the event of inadvertent contact with live parts.    ABATEMENT NOTE: One acceptable means of abatement is to comply with the appropriate electrical PPE requirements as outlined in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E Article 130, section 130.7 which would include but not limited to a face shield, insulated gloves, insulated boots, and a hard hat rated for exposure to live parts.

Issued

2012-09-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-10-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(c): Personal protective equipment was not of safe design and construction for the work to be performed:    a) Z Tree Specialist Inc. 1869 Lippincott Road - On or about March 29, 2012, an employee was performing tree trimming work near energized 13.2 KV overhead lines while using a conductive wire rope lanyard which was not suitable to be used around energized lines.

Issued

2012-09-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3000.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.39(a): The employer did not orally report the death of an employee or the in-patient hospitalization of three or more employees because of a work-related incident    a) Z Tree Specialist Inc. 1869 Lippincott Road - The employer did not notify OSHA of a work-related death within eight hours of its occurrence at approximately 3:05 pm on March 29, 2012.

Issued

2012-09-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-10-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    a) Z Tree Specialist Inc. - On or about March 29, 2012, a written hazard communication program was not provided for employee protection when working with industrial chemical products.

Issued

2012-09-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-10-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): The employer did not have a material safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical in use:    a) Z Tree Specialist Inc. - On or about March 29, 2012, the employer did not have material safety data sheets made available for employee reference when gasoline, oils, and lubricants were used in the workplace.

Issued

2012-09-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-10-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:    a) Z Tree Specialist Inc. - On or about March 29, 2012, employees were not trained in the safe handling of gasoline, oils, and lubricants used in the workplace.