OSHA Inspection: DON KEHN CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Issued

2014-02-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-03-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2500.00 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)  Don Kehn Construction, Inc. at U.S. 287 & Colorado 56, Berthoud, CO 80513:  On and before October 24, 2013 the exposing employer did not ensure daily inspections of an excavation 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 excavation was approximately 25 feet by 28 feet and 7.5 feet in depth.  The excavation had three vertical walls with visible cracks and fissures, in addition to sections of soil sloughing into the excavation.  This condition exposed employees to a crushing hazard by excavation wall cave-in.    (b)  Don Kehn Construction, Inc. at U.S. 287 & Colorado 56, Berthoud, CO 80513:  On and before October 24, 2013 the exposing employer did not ensure daily inspections of a 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 that approximately two feet of soil was exposed from the top of the trench box to the top of the trench and did not take prompt corrective action to eliminate the cave-in hazard.  The vertical-walled trench was approximately 15 feet wide and 11.5 feet in depth.  A section of the south wall sloughed into the trench while an employee was working inside a trench box.  This condition exposed the employee to a struck-by hazard.

Issued

2014-02-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-03-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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)  Don Kehn Construction, Inc. at U.S. 287 & Colorado 56, Berthoud, CO 80513:  On and before October 24, 2013 the exposing employer did not ensure that the trench spoil-pile was two feet from the edge of the trench.  The trench was approximately 15 feet wide and 11.5 feet in depth.  This condition exposed the employees to the hazard of the materials falling into the trench or causing the trench to collapse.

Issued

2014-02-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-03-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2500.00 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 29 CFR 1926.652(b) or (c):      (a)  Don Kehn Construction, Inc. at U.S. 287 & Colorado 56, Berthoud, CO 80513:  On and before October 24, 2013 the exposing employer did not ensure that employees working inside an excavation with vertical walls on three sides were protected from cave-in, in that two employees worked inside an excavation that was approximately 7.5 in depth without using a protective system.  The excavation measured approximately 25 feet by 28 feet.  This condition exposed employees to a crushing hazard by excavation wall cave-in.    (b)  Don Kehn Construction, Inc. at U.S. 287 & Colorado 56, Berthoud, CO 80513:  On and before October 24, 2013 the exposing employer did not ensure that employees working inside a trench box located inside a trench with vertical walls were protected from cave-in, in that approximately two feet of soil was exposed from the top of the trench box to the top of the trench.   The trench was approximately 15 feet wide and 11.5 feet in depth.  This condition exposed employees to a crushing hazard by excavation wall cave-in.

Issued

2014-02-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-03-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(g)(1)(iii):  Employees were not protected from the hazard of cave-ins when entering or exiting the area protected by shields:     (a)  Don Kehn Construction, Inc. at U.S. 287 & Colorado 56, Berthoud, CO 80513:  On and before October 24, 2013 the exposing employer did not ensure that employees were protected while entering and exiting a trench that measured approximately 15 feet wide and 11.5 feet in depth, in that employees accessed the trench by climbing a ladder that was placed at the bottom of the trench, outside the protective shield system.  This condition exposed employees to a crushing hazard by excavation wall cave-in.