OSHA Inspection: SOIL MODIFICATION INC.

Issued

Sep 4, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,400 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, hazardous atmospheres and or other hazardous conditions:    (a)  Soil Modification Inc. at 1701 Espana St, Aurora, CO 80011:  On June 5, 2013 the exposing employer did not ensure that daily inspections of the trench and the adjacent area were made by the competent person for evidence of a situation that could have resulted in a hazardous condition, in that the competent person did not identify the lack of an appropriate protective system or did not take prompt corrective action to eliminate the cave-in hazard. The vertical wall trench was approximately 130 feet in length, 2 feet 6 inches in width, and varied from 4 feet 6 inches to 6 feet 7 inches in depth. The type B soil in the trench had visible cracks and fissures, in addition to holes in sections throughout the length of the trench. This condition exposed employees to a crushing hazard by excavation wall cave-in.

Issued

Sep 4, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 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:    (a)  Soil Modification Inc. at 1701 Espana St, Aurora, CO 80011:  On June 5, 2013 the exposing employer did not ensure that employees were protected from injury, in that rocks were stacked at the top edge of the trench near the building. The excavation was approximately 4 feet 6 inches at this location. This condition exposed employees to the hazard of the rocks falling into the trench or causing the trench to collapse.

Issued

Sep 4, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,960 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):    (a)  Soil Modification Inc. at 1701 Espana St, Aurora, CO 80011:  On June 5, 2013 the exposing employer did not ensure that employees working inside a trench with vertical walls were protected from cave-in, in that an employee worked inside the trench at a location that measured approximately 6 feet 7 inches in depth without using a protective system. The trench measured approximately 2 feet 6 inches wide. This condition exposed the employee to a crushing hazard by excavation wall cave-in.