OSHA Inspection: EMPIRE STEEL ERECTORS, LP.

Issued

Aug 28, 2012

Abate by

Aug 29, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $5,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.502(d)(15):     Anchorage used for attachment for personal fall arrest equipment was not capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per employee attached nor was it designed, installed and used as follows: As part of a complete personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two; and under the supervision of a qualified person.    The employer does not provide anchorages for the attachment of personal fall arrest equipment that is capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per employee. This violation occurred on or about March 27, 2012, located at the Alden Bridge work site located at or near 3759 FM 1488, The Woodlands, TX, on the roof where two employees were exposed to an approximately 16 foot, 6 inch fall hazard when decking the roof without an anchorage capable of withstanding 5,000 pounds per employee.     Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the date of this citation, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that employees are provided anchor points that support 5,000 pounds per employee.

Issued

Aug 28, 2012

Abate by

Aug 29, 2012

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.502(d)(16)(iii):     Personal fall arrest systems, when stopping a fall, were not rigged such that an employee could not free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m) nor contact any lower level:    The employer does not provide a personal fall arrest system that is capable of preventing a free fall of 6 feet or less. This violation occurred on or about March 27, 2012, located at the work site at or near 3759 FM 1488, The Woodlands, TX, on the roof where two employees were decking the roof with arrest system that allowed a free fall greater than 6 feet.    Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the date of this citation, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that employees were protected from free falling more than 6 feet .

Issued

Aug 28, 2012

Abate by

Aug 29, 2012

Penalty

Initial $12,600 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.760(a)(1): Each employee engaged in a steel erection activity who is on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge more than 15 feet (4.6 m) above a lower level was not protected from fall hazards by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, positioning device systems, or fall restraint systems.  The employer does not protect employees from falling when working more than 15 feet above lower levels. This violation occurred on or about March 27, 2012, on the roof of a the Alden Bridge worksite, located at or near 3759 FM 1488, The Woodlands TX, where employees were exposed to a 16 foot, 6 inch fall hazard when performing roofing work without using a fall protection system.  The Empire Steel Erectors, L.P. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1926.760(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 312831894, citation number 1, item number 1, and was affirmed as a final order on November 7, 2009, with respect to a workplace located at 1002 Gessner, Houston, TX.  Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that employees are protected from falling when exposed to falls 15 feet or more above a lower level or ground while performing steel erection activities.