OSHA Inspection: VAN KIRK SAND AND GRAVEL, INC.

Issued

Sep 25, 2014

Abate by

Oct 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2):   The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his/her environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury:   Worksite located at 18th and Grant Streets, Holdrege NE and throughout the company:  The employer is failing to train the operators in the basic safety rules of the equipment.      a.  The operators manuals for the various types of heavy equipment operated by the employees of Van Kirk Bros. requires the operators to review the manuals prior to the operation of the equipment.  As part of the on the job training provided by the employer, a review of the manuals is not taking place.  Those manuals contain the potential unsafe conditions which could be encountered while operating those pieces of equipment.  This includes any added equipment such as attachment coupling devices known as quick couplers.      b.  Training for non-English speaking employees does not include manuals written in a language which they understand.  The operators manuals for the heavy equipment used by Van Kirk Bros. are in English and for some employees this is not a language they understand.  This makes it difficult for the employees to meet the requirements set forth within the manuals which requires the operator to read the them prior to the operation of the equipment.    Abatement certification and abatement documentation is required for this violation.  The documentation should include written verification of abatement, applicable measurements or monitoring results, and photographs or videos which you believe will be helpful.  The abatement certification sheet is enclosed with the citations.

Issued

Sep 25, 2014

Abate by

Oct 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.50(b): Provisions were not made prior to commencement of the project for prompt medical attention in case of serious injury:    Worksite located at 18th and Grant Streets, Holdrege, NE:  The employer is failing to ensure that a person having valid training in first aid was available at the worksite where the response time of EMS personnel would exceed 3-5 minutes.  On July 17, 2014, an employee was struck by a falling excavator bucket; medical attention was not available within a reasonable time (3-5 minutes).  The employer called 911 and the first response was 11 minutes after the 911 call was placed.        In this situation, preplanning could have determined that transporting an accident victim themselves might have been a better solution.  The local hospital, the Phelps Memorial Medical Center, is .81 miles from the accident site and a 2 minute drive.  In lieu of transporting themselves, a person trained in first aid (with a valid certificate) to bridge the gap between the incident and EMS response is another viable option.         Abatement certification and abatement documentation is required for this violation.  The documentation should include written verification of abatement, applicable measurements or monitoring results, and photographs or videos which you believe will be helpful.  The abatement certification sheet is enclosed with the citations.