OSHA Inspection: NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Dec 4, 2013

Abate by

Dec 29, 2013

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to an uncontrolled release of water and struck-by hazards from projectile equipment (i.e. valves).    a) NJ American Water Watchung, NJ site -  Corner of Brookdale Road and Mountain Boulevard:     Employees were exposed to the hazards of an uncontrolled release of high pressure water and/or being struck-by a projectile valve as a result of the valve being inadequately restrained and secured to the Tee-junction.    Condition noted on or about 06/18/2013.    References: American National Standards Institute/ American Water Works Association   AWWA M17 - Installation, Field Testing, and Maintenance of Fire Hydrants (Fourth Edition)  Section:         M17 4 - Installation pg. 22 #8  AWWA C600-10 - Installation of Ductile-Iron Mains and Their Appurtenances    Section:         4.3.7 Installing Hydrants p.18 4.3.7.2.2

Issued

Dec 4, 2013

Abate by

Jan 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2): The employer did not initiate and maintain a safety program which provides for frequent and regular inspections of job sites, materials, and equipment to be made by a competent person (i.e., a person who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the working conditions which are hazardous, or dangerous to employees:     a) NJ American Water Watchung, NJ site -  Corner of Brookdale Road and Mountain Boulevard:     Employer failed to implement and enforce the Hydrant Replacement Job Safety Analysis (JSA) procedure. The competent persons were not trained to adequately perform equipment inspections and recognize equipment hazards.     Condition noted on or about 06/18/2013.

Issued

Dec 4, 2013

Abate by

Jan 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2): The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe condition(s) and the regulation(s) applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazard(s) or other exposure to illness or injury:     a) American Water Watchung, NJ site -  Corner of Brookdale Road and Mountain Boulevard:    Employer failed to provide hazard recognition and/or avoidance training to control or eliminate hazards associated with improper or inadequate valve restraints and/or high pressure valve blow outs (discharges) when employees replace fire hydrants.     Condition noted on or about 06/18/2013.