OSHA Inspection: PIPE WORKS SERVICES, INC.

Issued

Feb 17, 2015

Abate by

Mar 13, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2): The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe condition(s) and the regulation(s) applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazard(s) or other exposure to illness or injury:    a) Work Site:  Southwest Corner of Coleman Avenue & Kimball Street, Chatham, NJ and at the Corporate Offices at 33 River Road, Chatham, NJ.    Employee(s) were not instructed to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions and were not trained as to what OSHA regulations applied to them at the job site so that they could control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to injury while engaging in trenching and excavation operations.                                                                    Violation observed on or about 01/30/2015.

Issued

Feb 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(c)(2):   A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of egress was not located in trench excavations that were 4 feet (1.22m) or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet (7.62m) of lateral travel for employees:    a) Work Site:  Southwest Corner of Coleman Avenue & Kimball Street, Chatham, NJ.    Employee(s) were working inside a 48 foot long trench that was 5.6 feet to 7.8 feet in depth without a safe means of egress as a ladder or ramp was not provided.                                                                       Violation observed on or about 01/30/2015.

Issued

Feb 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

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.    a) Work Site:  Southwest Corner of Coleman Avenue & Kimball Street, Chatham, NJ.    Employees were exposed to struck-by injuries in the up to 7.8 foot deep trench as the employer had not ensured that soil and rocks that could fall into the trench were kept back at least 2 feet from the edges of the trench.                                             Violation observed on or about 01/30/2015.

Issued

Feb 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(k)(1):   An inspection of the excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems was not conducted by the competent person prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift:      a) Work Site:  Southwest Corner of Coleman Avenue & Kimball Street, Chatham, NJ.      A daily inspection of the excavation was not made by a competent person. Excavation had visible deficiencies, such as but not limited to, no protective cave-in system and an inadequate protective system depending upon the location in the trench, lack of safe egress, spoil pile less than 2 feet from the edge of the excavation, with a depth of up to 7 feet, 9 inches.                                                                     Violation observed on or about 01/30/2015.

Issued

Feb 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 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 the excavation was sloped at an angle steeper than one and one-half horizontal to one vertical (34 degrees measured from the horizontal):      a) Work Site:  Southwest Corner of Coleman Avenue & Kimball Street, Chatham, NJ.    Laborers working in an excavation were exposed to struck-by and crushing injuries in the 5.6 foot to 7.8 foot deep trench which was not adequately sloped or protected by shields or shoring.                                                                     Violation observed on or about 01/30/2015.

Issued

Feb 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(e)(1)(ii):  Support systems were not installed and removed in a manner that protected employees from cave-ins, structural collapses, or from being struck by members of the support system:    a) Work Site:  Southwest Corner of Coleman Avenue & Kimball Street, Chatham, NJ.    Laborer working in the trench was exposed to struck-by and crushing injuries in the 5.6 foot to 7.8 foot deep trench as he was installing the timber shoring system in a manner that exposed him to being caught between the plywood sheet and the vertical dirt wall.                                                                     Violation observed on or about 01/30/2015.