OSHA Inspection: WESTSIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.

Issued

Oct 8, 2015

Abate by

Oct 21, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.268(b)(7): The employer did not ensure that no employee approached or took any conductive object closer to any electrically energized overhead power lines and parts than prescribed in Table R-2 or in (i) - (iii) of this section:    (a)  Job site at 414 Cold Springs Road, Morgantown, WV:  The employer did not ensure that no employee used conductive materials, such as conductive metal lashing wire, closer to a 7200 volt energized overhead power line than the allowed distances in table R-2 of 29 CFR 1910.268 as determined on May 4, 2015.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

Oct 8, 2015

Abate by

Oct 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.268(c): The employer did not provide training in the various precautions and safe practices described in this section and did not insure that employees did not engage in the activities to which this section applies until such employees have received proper training in the various precautions and safe practices required by this section.   (a)  Employees were not trained on the various precautions and safe practices described in 29 CFR 1910.268, such as the approach distances to exposed energized overhead power lines and parts as described in 1910.268(b)(7) table R-2, prior to allowing employees to work on telephone lines that shared the same utility pole as overhead power lines as determined on May 4, 2015.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

Oct 8, 2015

Abate by

Oct 28, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.268(c)(3): Training provided did not include first aid training, including instruction in artificial respiration:    (a)    The employer had not provided training on first aid and artificial respiration to all field technicians that work in rural areas away from medical facilities as determined on May 4, 2015.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

Oct 8, 2015

Abate by

Oct 21, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.268(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that rubber insulating equipment designed for the voltage levels to be encountered was used by employees as required by this section:    (a)  Job site at 414 Cold Springs Road, Morgantown, WV:  The employer did not ensure that each affected employee wore electrically insulated rubber gloves when working near power lines in that an employee wrapping lashing wire around cables while working from a bucket truck was not wearing any gloves as determined on May 4, 2015.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

Oct 8, 2015

Abate by

Oct 21, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $960 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.268(g)(1): The employer did not ensure that safety belts and straps were provided and used when work was performed at positions more than 4 feet above the ground, on poles, and on towers:    (a)  Job site at 414 Cold Springs Road, Morgantown, WV:  The employer did not ensure that each affected employee used a safety harness when working more than four feet above the ground in the bucket of a bucket truck in that an employee was not wearing his fall harness while lashing two lines together as determined on May 4, 2015.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Oct 8, 2015

Abate by

Oct 21, 2015

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $240 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(1): A Log of all recordable work-related injuires and illnesses (OSHA Form 300 or equivalent), was not completed in the detail as required by the regulation:    (a)  The 2015 OSHA-300 log was not filled out completely for an injury occurring on April 14, 2015 in that the employer did not mark the classification of the case in columns (G) through (J) as determined on May 5, 2015.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Oct 8, 2015

Abate by

Oct 21, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:  (a)  Job site at 414 Cold Springs Road, Morgantown, WV:  The employer had not developed a written certification that a personal protective equipment assessment had been performed as determined on May 4, 2015.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Oct 8, 2015

Abate by

Oct 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.268(c)(1): Training provided by the employer did not include recognition and avoidance of dangers relating to encounters with harmful substances and animal, insect, or plant life:  (a)  Job site at 414 Cold Springs Road, Morgantown, WV:  Employee training did not include the recognition and avoidance of dangers relating to encounters with harmful substances, animals, and insects when field technicians are working outside in rural areas with telecommunications equipment as determined on May 4, 2015.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED