OSHA Inspection: WESTRA CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION

Issued

2013-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2975.00 · Current $500.00 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 paragraph (b) or (c) of this section:    For the Westra jobsite at the intersection of SR-37 and SR-630 in Mulberry, FL, as observed on or about 09/09/2013:     a) Employees were exposed to cave-in hazards while inside a trench box that was not protected on either end from cave-ins. At the open ends of the trench box, the excavation walls were 8 feet deep/high, vertical, and the soil was type C.

Issued

2013-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2975.00 · Current $2475.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(g)(1)(ii): Shields were not installed in a manner to restrict lateral or other hazardous movement of the shield in the event of the application of sudden lateral loads:    a) For the Westra jobsite at the intersection of SR-37 and SR-630 in Mulberry, FL, as observed on or about 09/09/2013.   Employees were exposed to struck-by hazards while working inside a trench box which was not installed in a manner which restricted lateral or other hazardous movement of the trench box. The side walls of the excavation located adjacent to the trench box were over 8-feet high and there were gaps of more than 2.5 feet between the side of the trench box and the excavation walls.  In the event of an excavation wall failing, and due to the large gaps available for the soil to occupy, there was the potential for 320 cubic feet of type C, sandy soil to exert lateral loads on the side of the trench box.  This sudden exertion of pressure on the side of the trench box could result in injury of employees inside due to movement of the trench box.