OSHA Inspection: C. E. ANKIEWICZ CONSTRUCTION & EXCAVATION, INC.

Issued

Oct 28, 2014

Abate by

Nov 24, 2014

Penalty

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

Hazardous substances S777

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) South Side of the Building - An employee worked in a trench, dug in Type B soil, to install 10-inch sprinkler piping.  This trench had a depth of 7 feet, a bottom width ranging from 4 feet to 5 feet wide, a length of 42 feet long, and a top width of 12 feet wide.  The trench did not have an adequate protective system in that the benching system used did not correspond to a maximum allowable slope of 1:1, exposing the employee to a cave-in hazard, on or about July 25, 2014.  Specifically, the benching system used had the following deficiencies:  the first bench at the bottom on the east and west walls of the trench had a height of 5 feet rather than a maximum allowable height of 4 feet; the first bench at the bottom of the west wall had a horizontal width of 30 inches rather than 8 feet (96 inches); and the first bench at the bottom of the east wall had a horizontal width of 36 inches rather than 8 feet (96 inches).    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.