OSHA Inspection: FREEDOM CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Issued

Aug 12, 2015

Abate by

Aug 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,600

Hazardous substances S777

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) Jobsite, 602 Addison St., Philadelphia - Employees working in an excavation, approximately 10 feet deep, 30 feet long and 30 feet wide, were not provided with a ladder, structural ramp, or other safe means of access and egress, so as to require no more than 25 feet of lateral travel, exposing the employees to fall hazards.  Observed on or about 2/25/15.

Issued

Aug 12, 2015

Abate by

Aug 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

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). 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 from the horizontal):  a) Jobsite, 602 Addison St., Philadelphia - Employees were not protected from cave-in hazards while preparing footings in an excavation, approximately 10 feet deep, in type B soil.  The walls of the excavation were sloped at an angle steeper than one and one-half horizontal to one vertical (34 degrees from the horizontal).  Observed on or about 2/25/15.    b) Jobsite, 602 Addison St., Philadelphia - Employees were not protected from cave-in hazards in trenches, approximately five (5) feet wide and eight (8) to ten (10) feet deep, between the concrete walls and the adjoining buildings on the east and south sides of the excavation and between the concrete walls and the soil below the sidewalks on the north and west sides of the excavation.  The trench walls were sloped at an angle steeper than one and one-half horizontal to one vertical (34 degrees from the horizontal).  Observed on or about 2/25/15.

Issued

Aug 12, 2015

Abate by

Aug 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(i)(3): Sidewalks, pavements, or appurtenant structures had been undermined and a support system or another method was not provided to protect employees from the possible collapse of such structures:  a) Jobsite, 602 Addison St., Philadelphia -   The layer of brick, concrete and debris at the top of the excavation wall along the Addison Street and the 6th Street sides of the excavation was undermined, and a support system or other method to protect employees from possible collapse was not installed.  Observed on or about 2/25/15.

Issued

Aug 12, 2015

Abate by

Aug 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(j)(1): Adequate protection was not provided to protect employees from loose rock or soil that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling from an excavation face:  a) Jobsite, 602 Addison St., Philadelphia - Employees in an excavation were not protected from loose rock or soil, including a two feet wide by three feet long hanging chunk of concrete, falling or rolling from the sides of the excavation, exposing employees to struck by hazards.  Observed on or about 2/25/15.

Issued

Aug 12, 2015

Abate by

Aug 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

Hazardous substances S777

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) Jobsite, 602 Addison St., Philadelphia - Employees in an excavation were not protected from injury due to excavated or other materials and equipment falling or rolling into the excavation.  These materials including stacked bricks, an empty 55 gallon drum, a 5 gallon pail and a porta-potty within two feet of the edge of the excavation.  Observed on or about 2/25/15.

Issued

Aug 12, 2015

Abate by

Aug 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(k)(1): Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems were not made by a competent person for evidence of a situation that could have resulted in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems:   a) Jobsite, 602 Addison St., Philadelphia:  An inspection of the excavation was not conducted by a competent person on a daily basis, prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift, exposing employees to cave-in hazards.  Observed on or about 2/25/15.

Issued

Aug 12, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2): The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his/her environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury:   a) Jobsite, 602 Addison St., Philadelphia - The employer did not instruct each employee preparing footings in the excavation in the recognition, evaluation and control of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment, exposing employees to death or other serious illness or injury.  Observed on or about 2/25/15.