OSHA Inspection: UNITY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 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(c). The employer had not complied with the provisions of 29 CFR 1926.652(b)(1)(i) in that the excavation was sloped at an angle stteper than one-half horizontal to one vertical.  (a) Excavation located at 2031 Corner Road, Powder Springs, GA 30127: Employees were exposed to soil cave-ins while working in a 14-foot wide x 20-foot long x 9-foot deep excavation while installing a 36" pipe valve/saddle inside a 8-foot high x 12-foot long Shoring International Trench Shield (Model 4MSW-812) as the 9 foot type-b soil walls on the ends of the trench shield exposed employees to cave-ins as a cave-in protection system was not provided on each end.

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 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) Excavation located at 2031 Corner Road, Powder Springs, GA 30127: Employees performing work inside a trench shield in an excavation which measured approximately 14-feet wide x 20-feet long x 9-feet deep were exposed to possible struck-by hazards due to lateral movement of the trench shield as the competent person on site failed to backfill the sides of the trench shied as required by the manufacturer of the Shoring International Trench Shield (Model 4MSW-812).

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(g)(2): Excavations of earth material to a level no greater than 2 feet (.61m) below the bottom of a shield was permitted:   (a) Excavation located at 2031 Corner Road, Powder Springs, GA 30127: Employees working in a excavation which measured 14-feet wide x 20-feet long x 9-feet deep were exposed to engulfment hazards while working in a trench sheild which was set approximately 3 feet from the bottom of the excavation.

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(16): Portable ladders 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 tagged with "Do Not Use" or similar language, and were not withdrawn from service until repaired.  (a) Excavation located at 2031 Corner Road, Powder Springs, GA 30127: Employees were exposed to falls of approximately 9 feet while using a damaged 28-foot Werner Aluminum Ladder (Model D3828-2) which was used to access a 14-feet wide x 20-feet long x 9-feet deep excavation. The employer failed to remove the ladder from service as the ladder was missing rungs and the side rails were bent and twisted.