OSHA Inspection: WYATT TANKS, INC.

Issued

Jan 18, 2013

Abate by

Feb 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,760 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.102(a)(1): Eye and face protective equipment were not used when machines or operations presented potential eye or face injury from physical, chemical, or radiation agents:    a) On or about October 31, 2012 and times prior at 8230 Padgett Switch Road, Irvington, Al: The employer failed to ensure employees conducting spray painting operations wore eye protection which exposed them to eye injuries.

Issued

Jan 18, 2013

Abate by

Feb 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,760 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.151(a)(3): Smoking was not prohibited at or in the vicinity of operations which constituted a fire hazard:    a) On or about October 31, 2012 and times prior at 8230 Padgett Switch Road, Irvington, Al: The employer failed to ensure smoking was prohibited within the water tank tented area during spray painting operations which exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Jan 18, 2013

Abate by

Feb 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,360 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.405(g)(2)(iii): The repair splice in a hard service flexible cord No. 12 or larger did not retain the insulation, outer sheath properties, and usage characteristics of the cord which was being used:    a) On or about October 31, 2012 and times prior at 8230 Padgett Switch Road, Irvington, Al: The employer failed to ensure the 10/3 AWG AC power cable for the Zmac/1000 traction hoist moter was not properly spliced which presented an electrical hazard to employees working on the ground.

Issued

Jan 18, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,160 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.451(g)(1)(ii): Each employee on a single-point or two-point adjustable suspension scaffold was not protected by both a personal fall arrest system and a guardrail system:    a)  On or about October 31, 2012 and times prior at 8230 Padgett Switch Road Water Tower, Irvington, Al: The employer failed to ensure employees working from a single-point suspension scaffold wore fall protection which exposed them to the hazards associated with falls of up to approximately 140 feet to the ground.    b)  On or about October 31, 2012 and times prior at 8230 Padgett Switch Road Water Tower, Irvington, Al: The employer failed to ensure employees working from a two-point suspension scaffold were equipped with proper guardrails and employees wore personal fall protection which exposed them to the hazards associated with falls of up to approximately 140 feet to the ground.

Issued

Jan 18, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.451(g)(3)(iii):  Lanyards connected to horizontal lifelines or structural members on a two-point suspension scaffold were not equipped with additional independent support lines and automatic locking devices capable of stopping the fall of the scaffold in the event one or both of the suspension ropes fail:    c) On or about October 31, 2012 and times prior at 8230 Padgett Switch Road, Irvington, Al: The employer failed to ensure the horizontal lifeline on a two-point suspension scaffold was equipped with independent support lines and automatic locking devices capable of stopping the fall of the scaffold in the event one or both suspension ropes failed since employees had their personal fall arrest system attached to it.

Issued

Jan 18, 2013

Abate by

Feb 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1): Each employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge which was 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level was not protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems:    a)  On or about October 31, 2012 and times prior at 8230 Padgett Switch Road, Irvington, Al: The employer failed to ensure employees  were protected with a personal fall arrest system when the employees had climbed up and sat on the top rail of the guardail system while awaiting the suspended scaffold to come to their level exposing the employees to falls of approximately 140 feet.

Issued

Jan 18, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,160 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(15): Each employee on a walking/working surface 6 feet (1.8 meters) or more above lower levels was not protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system:    a) On or about October 31, 2012 and times prior at 8230 Padgett Switch Road Water Tower, Irvington, Al: The employer failed to ensure employees who walked / worked on the water tower strut rods and cross member I-beams during painting of the back side of clips (rods tied to the tower) wore fall protection which exposed the employees to the hazards associated with falls from various heights (approximately 45 feet to 125 feet) to the ground below.    b)  On or about October 31, 2012 and times prior at 8230 Padgett Switch Road, Irvington, Al: The employer failed to ensure employees were protected from falls of various heights up to 120 feet when employees climbed off the two-point suspended scaffolds onto the structure I-beams and rods tied into the tower at the clips without fall protection to conduct painting.    c)  On or about October 31, 2012 and times prior at 8230 Padgett Switch Road, Irvington, Al: The employer failed to ensure employees were protected from falls of various heights up to 120 feet when employees climbed off the single-point suspended scaffold onto the structure spider rod and then a 24 foot metal ladder to conduct spray painting without fall protection.

Issued

Jan 18, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(4): Ladder(s) were used for purposes other than the purpose for which they were designed:    a) On or about October 31, 2012 and times prior a metal ladder at 8230 Padgett Switch Road Water Tower, Irvington, Al: The employer failed to ensure the ladder was used for its intended purpose in that it laid across two steel rods underneath the water tower tank in a vertical position which employees worked from while sand blasting and painting the underneath of the tank without fall proteciton exposing them to fall hazards of up to 125 feet.

Issued

Jan 18, 2013

Abate by

Feb 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(16): Portable ladder(s) with structural defects, such as, but not limited to, broken or missing rungs, cleats, or steps, broken or split rails, corroded components, or other faulty or defective components, were not either immediately marked in a manner that readily identifies them as defective, or be tagged with "Do Not Use" or similar language, and shall be withdrawn from service:    b)  On or about October 31, 2012 and times prior at 8230 Padgett Switch Road, Irvington, Al: The employer did not have a portable metal ladder with a broken rung, broken leg, and slightly bent removed from service or marked / tagged to prevent it from being used.  Employees used the ladder as a horizontal work platform while sand blasting and painting the underneath of the water tower tank exposing them to falls of up to 125 feet.