OSHA Inspection: VALLEY PAVING, INC.

Issued

Jul 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.602(c)(1)(ii): Modifications or additions affecting the safe operation of the equipment were  made without the manufacturer's written approval: Note:  If such modifications or changes were made, the capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals should have been changed accordingly.    At this sewer line construction site, where employees were working on or near a lift-station, employees were working in a 17ft wide, 22ft long, and 17ft deep excavation. The excavator operator was operating the excavator with a job made pin, not per manufacturer's guidance, securing the hydraulic bucket cylinder to the linkage section which connects to the bucket.

Issued

Jul 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 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:    At this sewer line construction site, where employees were working on or near a lift-station, employees were working in a 17ft wide, 22ft long, and 17ft deep excavation without a safe means of egress:    A. Employees were using a ladder, on a near vertical section of wall, where falling or sliding of the earthen walls is evident, where the ladder was not placed as to provide stability from movement, and safe exit of this excavation.    B.  Employees climbed a near-vertical section of wall, once off the ladder, to complete egress from this excavation.

Issued

Jul 22, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(g)(1)(i): Where oxygen deficiency (atmosphere containing less than 19.5 percent oxygen) or a hazardous atmosphere existed or could reasonably be expected to exist, such as in excavations in landfill areas or excavations in areas where hazardous substances are stored nearby, the atmospheres in the excavation shall be tested before employees enter excavations greater than 4feet in depth:    Employees were repairing/ connecting a lift station, in an excavation that measured 17 feet deep at its deepest point, 17 feet long, and 22 feet wide at the surface and tapered down as the trench gained depth. The lift station was not adequately pumped dry as to eliminate odorous gasses and waste water from leaking into the work area. Strong odorous gases were apparent outside the trench.  The exposed employees where not protected from possible hazardous atmospheres, by adequate testing, prior to entering the excavation.

Issued

Jul 22, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(h)(1): Employees were working in excavations in which there was accumulated water, or excavations in which water was accumulating, and adequate precautions had not been taken to protect employees against the hazards posed by water accumulation.      At this sewer line construction site, where employees were working on or near a lift-station, employees were working in a 17ft wide, 22ft long, and 17ft deep excavation without the proper means of preventing water accumulation in the work area.  The water accumulation had already been  a factor in a collapse in this trench in the days prior to this inspection.

Issued

Jul 22, 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).     Employees were repairing/ connecting a lift station, in excavation that measured 17 feet deep at its deepest point and 17 feet long and 22 feet wide. The exposed employee was not protected from a cave-in by the use of adequate shoring, trench-box, or adequate sloping of the excavation sides and ends.