OSHA Inspection: TAYLOR'S DRAIN AND SEWER SERVICE INC.

Issued

Sep 12, 2013

Abate by

Aug 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $2,275 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(c)(2): A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of egress was not located in trench excavations that were 4 feet (1.22m) or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet (7.62m) of lateral travel for employees:    The employer is failing to protect employees from potential access and egress hazards associated access or egress a trench without a ladder or ramp.  The most recent example of this was found on the job site located at 4530 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE 68509, where the employer had inadequately trained employees repairing plugged sewer lines for an existing residential home while working in a trench where they are entering and exiting the trench by climbing the walls and no other method of acceptable access is available.

Issued

Sep 12, 2013

Abate by

Aug 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $2,275 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(j)(2): Protection was not provided by placing and keeping excavated or other materials or equipment at least 2 feet (.61m) from the edge of excavations, or by the use of retaining devices that were sufficient to prevent materials or equipment from falling or rolling into excavations, or by a combination of both if necessary:     The employer is failing to protect employees from potential struck by and caught between hazards associated with placing spoil piles of dirt along the edges of a trench.  The most recent example of this was found on the job site located at 4530 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE 68509, where the employer has employees repairing plugged sewer lines for an existing residential home while working in a trench where the employer has placed the spoil piles within 2 the edge along the length of the trench exposing the employees to potential struck by and caught between hazards.  Instances of struck by and caught between hazards include but are not limited to:    i.    Large clumps of dirt and rock falling back into the trench and striking unprotected employees in the head.  No employees were wearing hard hats.   ii.   The additional weight of the spoil piles laced so close to the edge could contribute to the breakdown of the wall resulting in a cave-in that could entrap the employees working in the trench.

Issued

Sep 12, 2013

Abate by

Aug 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $20,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(k)(1): Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems were not made by a competent person for evidence of a situation that could have resulted in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems:     The employer is failing to protect employees from potential cave in hazards associated with trenching and excavations when the employer has failed to meet the requirements of having a competent person inspect the trench/excavation prior to employees entering.  The most recent example of this was found on the job site located at 4530 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE 68509, where the employer had inadequately trained employees repairing plugged sewer lines for an existing residential home while working in a trench that failed to meet multiple requirements of this subpart specifically the lack of a competent persons evaluation of the trench prior to and during use.  Instances include but are not limited to:  i.    No soil test was conducted, where at least one test should be performed both visibly and manually.  ii.   Benching/sloping was used improperly to protect employees; specifically they did not meet the requirement of class B soil, 1:1 ration as outlined in Appendix A of this subpart.   iii.  Leaving an underground utility line exposed and unprotected during the operation exposed employees to  potential explosion hazards.

Issued

Sep 12, 2013

Abate by

Sep 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $20,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(a)(1): Each employee in an excavation was not protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.652(b) or (c) of this section:   The employer is failing to protect employees from potential caught between and struck by hazards associated trenching and excavation work.  The most recent example of this was found on the job site located at 4530 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE 68509, where the employer had inadequately trained employees repairing plugged sewer lines for an existing residential home while working in an unprotected trench with an ineffective benching/sloping combination that fails to meet the requirements of this subpart.