OSHA Inspection: FLAT RIDGE BUILDERS LLC

Issued

Nov 24, 2014

Abate by

Dec 13, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $952 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13): "Residential construction." Each employee engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system unless another provision in paragraph (b) of this section provides for an alternative fall protection measure. Exception: When the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use these systems, the employer shall develop and implement a fall protection plan which meets the requirements of paragraph (k) of 1926.502. Note: There is a presumption that it is feasible and will not create a greater hazard to implement at least one of the above-listed fall protection systems. Accordingly, the employer has the burden of establishing that it is appropriate to implement a fall protection plan which complies with 1926.502(k) for a particular workplace situation, in lieu of implementing any of those systems.  a. On the flat roof area of the building where employees were installing sheeting, fall protection was not used, thereby exposing employees to a 11 foot, 9 inch fall hazard.

Issued

Nov 24, 2014

Abate by

Dec 13, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $952 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.502(d)(6) Unless the snaphook is a locking type and designed for the following connections, snaphooks shall not be engaged:  29 CFR 1926.502(d)(6)(i): directly to webbing, rope or wire rope.  a. On the pitched section of the roof where employees were installing roof sheeting, employees wrapped their rope grab lanyards around the trusses and linked the snaphook around the nylon webbing of the lanyard, thereby exposing the employees to a 11 foot, 9 inch fall hazard.

Issued

Nov 24, 2014

Abate by

Dec 13, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.502(d)(15): Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per employee attached, or shall be designed, installed, and used as follows:   a. On the pitched roof of the worksite where employees were installing roof sheeting, the employees did not use a manufactured or designed anchor and wrapped their rope grab lanyards around the roof trusses and connected their snaphooks directly to the webbing, thereby being exposed to a 11 foot, 9 inch fall hazard.

Issued

Nov 24, 2014

Abate by

Dec 13, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $952 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.503(c) "Retraining." When the employer has reason to believe that any affected employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required by paragraph (a) of this section, the employer shall retrain each such employee. Circumstances where retraining is required include, but are not limited to, situations where:  29 CFR 1926.503(c)(3): Inadequacies in an affected employee's knowledge or use of fall protection systems or equipment indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill. Note: The following appendices to subpart M of this part serve as non-mandatory guidelines to assist employers in complying with the appropriate requirements of subpart M of this part.  a. On the flat roof area of the building where employees were installing roof sheeting, the employees did not know the requirements for fall protection and had not been retrained, thereby being exposed to a 11 foot, 9 inch fall hazard.  b On the pitched area of the roof where employees were installing roof sheeting, the employees did not know the requirements for anchoring a fall protection lanyard, thereby being exposed to a 11 foot, 9 inch fall hazard.