OSHA Inspection: 4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS, INC.

Issued

Oct 15, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,320 · Current $1,320

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.405(g)(2)(iv): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief is provided to prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:    a) Entire work site, on or about 4-24-15:  Employees were operating various portable hand tools through an extension cord that exhibited a broken strain relief.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM

Issued

Oct 15, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,760 · Current $1,760

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1052(c)(1)(i): Stairways having four or more risers or rising more than 30 inches (76 cm), whichever is less, were not equipped with at least one handrail:   a) First floor to second floor, on or about 4-24-15:  Employees were using a stairway without a hand rail on the wall side of the stairs, exposing the employees to a fall hazard of up to 9 feet 4 inches.     ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM

Issued

Oct 15, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,760 · Current $1,760

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1052(c)(1)(ii): Stairways having four or more risers or rising more than 30 inches (76 cm), whichever is less, were not equipped with a stair rail system along each unprotected side or edge:    a) First floor to second floor, on or about 4-24-15:  Employees were using a stairway without a stair rail system on the open side of the stairs, exposing the employees to a fall hazard of up to 4 feet 8 inches.     b) First floor to basement, on or about 4-24-15:  Employees were using a stairway without a stair rail system on the open side of the stairs, exposing the employees to a fall hazard of up to 10 feet 8 inches.     ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM

Issued

Oct 15, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $24,200 · Current $24,200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13):  Each employee engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet (1.8m) or more above lower levels is not protected by guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.  These violations were most recently observed at:  Weeping Willow Way, Lot TS-10, Camillus, NY  13031, as described below:      a) South side of building, morning room, on or about 4-24-15:  Two employees were setting trusses without fall protection, exposing the employees to a fall hazard of 18 feet 4 inches and 14 feet.   b) Entire perimeter of second floor (deck) of building, on or about 4-24-15:  Two employees were working on a floor deck with unprotected sides and edges, and were not protected from falls, exposing the employees to a fall hazard of up to 14 feet 2 inches.   c) Center of building, second floor, on or about 4-24-15:  Two employees were working in the vicinity of a stair opening and were not protected from falls, exposing the employees to a fall hazard 10 feet.    ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM   To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that its employees engaged in construction work are protected from falls, and that no employee is allowed to work on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge which is six (6) feet above a lower level without adequate fall protection.     Pursuant to 29CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, including a description of how these steps protect its employees from fall hazards.       WILLFUL ELEMENTS      1.      The employer knew the requirements of the standard:      Owner Rogerio Rezende DeSouza has previously been cited on numerous projects for the same and/or substantially similar violations.          2.      The employer knew of the condition and the exact facts of what was occurring:      Owner Rogerio Rezende DeSouza hired employees from a Craigslist advertisement looking for Framers.  Mr. DeSouza was familiar with the scope of work included in his bid items and did not supply safety materials or equipment for his employees on site.  Mr. DeSouza submitted payment requests to Ryan Homes indicating that he was aware of the status of completion of the project.          3.      Evidence existed that would compel one to believe that the condition , as it existed, did not comply with the standard:      Owner Rogerio Rezende DeSouza had not visited the work site during the framing portion of the project.  With total disregard, he did not provide employees with fall protection equipment which includes, but is not limited to, safety harnesses, lanyards, and ropes.  Manufactured fall protection attachments, which were provided and delivered with the prefabricated/panelized framing package, were on site and not used, as employees had no means to connect to them.          4.      The employer intended the result, non-compliance was not an accident:      Owner Rogerio Rezende DeSouza has previously been cited on numerous projects for the same and/or substantially similar violations.  Mr. DeSouza has intentionally ignored all previous citations and has allowed them to go to "final order".  Mr. DeSouza has not made any payments on those previous citations and has shown a total disregard for worker safety.          THE EMPLOYER HAS DISREGARDED ALL OSHA CORRESPONDENCE, WITH ALL INSPECTIONS REMAINING UNACKNOWLEDGED, AND THEREFORE BEING FORWARDED TO DEBT COLLECTION.  THE EMPLOYER COMMITTED VIOLATIONS WITH PLAIN INDIFFERENCE TO THE LAW WHERE HIGHER MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS WERE AWARE OF AN OSHA REQUIREMENT APPLICABLE TO THE COMPANY?S BUSINESS, BUT MADE LITTLE OR NO EFFORT TO COMMUNICATE THE REQUIREMENT TO LOWER LEVEL SUPERVISORS AND EMPLOYEES.  COMPANY OFFICIALS WERE AWARE OF A CONTINUING COMPLIANCE PROBLEM BUT MADE LITTLE OR NO EFFORT TO AVOID VIOLATIONS.             *** 4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.501(b)(13), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 974149, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 2, ISSUED ON 8-14-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 204 APPLEGARTH ROAD, BUILDING #14, MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ, 08831.      *** 4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.501(b)(13), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 990967, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 1, ISSUED ON 9-15-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT THE MEWS AT LAUREL CREEK, 551 CENTERTON ROAD, MOORESTOWN, NJ, 08057.      *** 4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.501(b)(13), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 989466, CITATION NUMBER 2, ITEM NUMBER 2A, ISSUED ON 8-14-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 219 WEST GEORGE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19123.      *** 4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.501(b)(13), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 981496, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 1A, ISSUED ON 6-20-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 204 LAUREL STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19123.      *** 4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.501(b)(13), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 980608, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 1A, ISSUED ON 7-8-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT LOT 256, CANAL VIEW DEVELOPMENT, MIDDLETOWN, DE, 19709.   ***  4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.501(b)(1), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 997801, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 1, ISSUED ON 12-2-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 4717 FREEMANSBURG AVENUE, BETHLEHEM, PA, 18020.   *** 4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.501(b)(4), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 989466, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 1, ISSUED ON 8-14-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 219 WEST GEORGE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19123.

Issued

Oct 15, 2015

Abate by

Nov 19, 2015

Penalty

Initial $24,200 · Current $24,200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.503(a)(1):  The employees are not provided with a training program for each employee potentially exposed to fall hazards to enable that employee to recognize the hazards of falling and the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards.  The employer does not require fall training during construction work activities.  This violation was most recently observed at:  Weeping Willow Way, Lot TS-10, Camillus, NY  13031, as described below:    a) Entire work site, on or about 4-24-15:  Three employees were working on various elevated surfaces (top plate, floors, trusses) without the training necessary for the employees to recognize the hazards associated with falls and their work, exposing the employees to fall hazards of up to 18 feet 4 inches.   ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM   To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that it its employees engaged in construction work are trained in the hazards from falls, and that no employee is allowed to work on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge which is six (6) feet above a lower level without adequate training.     Pursuant to 29CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, including a description of how these steps protect its employees through training in fall hazards.    WILLFUL ELEMENTS      1.      The employer knew the requirements of the standard:      Owner Rogerio Rezende DeSouza has previously been cited on numerous projects for the same and/or substantially similar violations, therefore knowing that there is a requirement for fall training.          2.      The employer knew of the condition and the exact facts of what was occurring:      Owner Rogerio Rezende DeSouza hired employees from a Craigslist advertisement looking for Framers.  Mr. DeSouza was familiar with the scope of work included in his bid items, and did not supply fall training, safety materials and/or equipment for his employees on site.  Mr. DeSouza submitted payment requests to Ryan Homes indicating that he was aware of the status of completion of the project.          3.      Evidence existed that would compel one to believe that the condition , as it existed, did not comply with the standard:      Owner Rogerio Rezende DeSouza had not visited the work site during the framing portion of the project.  With total disregard, he did not provide employees with fall protection training or fall protection equipment which includes, but is not limited to, safety harnesses, lanyards, and ropes.  Manufactured fall protection attachments, which were provided and delivered with the prefabricated/panelized framing package, were on site and not used, as employees had no means to connect to them and they were not trained in the proper use of those fall protection attachments.          4.      The employer intended the result, non-compliance was not an accident:      Owner Rogerio Rezende DeSouza has previously been cited on numerous projects for the same and/or substantially similar violations.  Mr. DeSouza has intentionally ignored all previous citations and has allowed them to go to "final order".  Mr. DeSouza has not made any payments on those previous citations and has shown a total disregard for worker safety.          THE EMPLOYER HAS DISREGARDED ALL OSHA CORRESPONDENCE, WITH ALL INSPECTIONS REMAINING UNACKNOWLEDGED, AND THEREFORE BEING FORWARDED TO DEBT COLLECTION.  THE EMPLOYER COMMITTED VIOLATIONS WITH PLAIN INDIFFERENCE TO THE LAW WHERE HIGHER MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS WERE AWARE OF AN OSHA REQUIREMENT APPLICABLE TO THE COMPANY?S BUSINESS, BUT MADE LITTLE OR NO EFFORT TO COMMUNICATE THE REQUIREMENT TO LOWER LEVEL SUPERVISORS AND EMPLOYEES.  COMPANY OFFICIALS WERE AWARE OF A CONTINUING COMPLIANCE PROBLEM BUT MADE LITTLE OR NO EFFORT TO AVOID VIOLATIONS.           4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.503(a)(1), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 998338, CITATION NUMBER 2, ITEM NUMBER 2, ISSUED ON 11-26-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 10 GRANT WOOD WAY,  EVESHAM, NJ, 08053.      4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.503(a)(1), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 989466, CITATION NUMBER 2, ITEM NUMBER 1B, ISSUED ON 8-14-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 219 WEST GEORGE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19123.      4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.503(a)(1), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 981496, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 1B, ISSUED ON 6-20-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 204 LAUREL STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19123.       4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.503(a)(1), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 980608, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 1B, ISSUED ON 7-8-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT LOT 256, CANAL VIEW DEVELOPMENT, MIDDLETOWN, DE, 19709.

Issued

Oct 15, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,640 · Current $2,640

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.404(f)(6):  The path to ground from circuits, equipment, or enclosures is not permanent and continuous.  This violation was most recently observed at:  Weeping Willow Way, Lot TS-10, Camillus, NY  13031, as described below:   a) Entire work site, on or about 4-24-15:  Employees were operating various portable hand tools through an extension cord that did not have a continuous path to ground due to a missing a ground pin.  ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM   To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that its extension cords are protected by a continuous path to ground.     Pursuant to 29CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, including a description of how these steps protect its employees through electrical grounding.    4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.404(f)(6), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 989466, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 2A, ISSUED ON 8-14-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 219 WEST GEORGE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19123.

Issued

Oct 15, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,640 · Current $2,640

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.416(e)(1):  Worn or frayed cords or cables are used.  This violation was most recently observed at:  Weeping Willow Way, Lot TS-10, Camillus, NY  13031, as described below:   a) Entire work site, on or about 4-24-15:  Employees were operating various portable hand tools through two extension cords that were damaged.       ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM   To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that its extension cords are not damaged, worn, or frayed.       Pursuant to 29CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, including a description of how these steps protect its employees from electrical hazards.    4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.416(e)(1), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 989466, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 2B, ISSUED ON 8-14-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 219 WEST GEORGE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19123.

Issued

Oct 15, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,640 · Current $2,640

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1051(a):  Stairway(s) or ladder(s) are not provided at all personnel points of access where there was a break in elevation of 19 inches (48 cm) or more; or no ramp, runway, sloped embankment, or personnel hoist was provided.  These violations were most recently observed at:  Weeping Willow Way, Lot TS-10, Camillus, NY  13031, as described below:     a) South side of building, garage, on or about 4-24-15:  Employees were using a door opening between a garage and home that had a change in elevation of 26 inches.       b) South side of building, front entrance, on or about 4-24-15:  Employees were using a door opening between a porch and home that had a change in elevation of 22 inches.       ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM   To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that changes in elevation are less than 19 inches.     Pursuant to 29CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, including a description of how these steps protect its employees from fall hazards.    4 X 4 GENERAL CONTRACTORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OR A SIMILAR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD, 1926.1051(a), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 998338, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 2, ISSUED ON 11-26-14, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 10 GRANT WOOD WAY,  EVESHAM, NJ, 08053.