OSHA Inspection: S & J CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Oct 27, 2014

Abate by

Nov 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $2,695 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(a): All surface encumbrances that were located so as to create a hazard to employees were not removed or supported, as necessary, to safeguard employees:    On or about August 21, 2014 and prior thereto, at the job site located along Redmond Rd in Jacksonville, Arkansas, employees were performing under ground boring operations for the installation of a water main. The employees were working in an excavation, that varied from approximately 11 to 19 feet deep, and pine trees along the edges of the excavation had not been removed or supported as necessary to prevent them from falling into the excavation. These conditions exposed the employees to the hazards of being caught in the trench and being struck by falling objects.

Issued

Oct 27, 2014

Abate by

Nov 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,850 · Current $1,925 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(d): Employees exposed to public vehicular traffic were not provided with a warning vest or other suitable garments marked with or made of reflectorized or high-visibility material:    On or about August 21, 2014 and at times prior thereto, at the job site located along Redmond Rd in Jacksonville, Arkansas, employees were performing underground boring operations for the installation of a new water main. The employees were working within 6 feet of an active railroad and were not wearing high visibility garments. These conditions exposed the employees to the hazard of being struck by the train.

Issued

Oct 27, 2014

Abate by

Nov 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $2,695

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(e)(1)(i): Members of support systems were not securely connected together to prevent sliding, falling, kickouts, or other predictable failure:    On or about August 21, 2014, and at times prior thereto, at the job site located along Redmond Rd in Jacksonville, Arkansas, employees were working in an excavation that varied from approximately 11 to 19 feet deep while performing underground boring operations for the installation of a new water main. Two trench shields were in the excavation. The southern most trench shield was installed without any spreaders to brace the sidewalls against lateral forces. These conditions exposed the employees to the hazard of being caught in the excavation.

Issued

Oct 27, 2014

Abate by

Nov 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $10,780 · Current $5,390 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:     On or about August 21, 2014 and at times prior thereto, a the job site located along Redmond Rd in Jacksonville, Arkansas, employees were working in an excavation that varied from approximately 11 to 19 feet deep. An 8 feet high trench shield sat on the floor of the excavation. The excavation walls were benched horizontally, approximately 4 feet back from the trench shield. The excavation walls then rose vertically at heights that varied from approximately 4 feet at the south end of the excavation to approximately 10 feet above the trench shield at the north end of the excavation. These conditions exposed the employees to  the hazard of being caught in the excavation.     S & J Construction, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 903581, Citation 1 Item 4, and was affirmed as a final order in August 2013, with respect to workplace located near the intersection of Arkansas Highway 319 and Waters Road in Austin, Arkansas.

Issued

Oct 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 (.61m) 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.  On or about August 21, 2014 and at times prior thereto, at the job site located along Redmond Rd in Jacksonville, Arkansas, employees were performing underground boring operations for the installation of a new water main, in an excavation that varied from approximately 11 to 19 feet deep. Excavated materials placed on the east side of the excavation were not placed at least 2 feet from the edge or otherwise restrained to prevent the spoil from falling back into the excavation. These conditions exposed the employees to the hazard of being  struck by falling spoil.