OSHA Inspection: K.R. SWERDFEGER CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Issued

Jan 8, 2016

Abate by

Jan 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $9,900 · Current $9,900

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):    (a)   K.R. Swerdfeger Construction, Inc., at 1885 Fish Creek Road, Estes Park, Colorado 80517:  On or before July 15, 2015, the excavating and exposing employer did not ensure that each employee conducting work in an excavation was protected from possible wall cave-in, in that a protective system was not utilized at the south end near the excavator.  The excavation measured depth was approximately 10 feet, 15-20 feet wide and approximately 30-40 feet in length.  This condition exposed employees to a crushing hazard.      (b)  K.R. Swerdfeger Construction, Inc., at 1885 Fish Creek Road, Estes Park, Colorado 80517:  On or before July 15, 2015, the excavating and exposing employer did not ensure that each employee conducting work in an excavation was protected from possible wall cave-in, in that a trench box near the west side was positioned approximately 4 to 5 feet away from the unprotected near vertical side of the excavation.  Sections of the wall were undercut due to sloughing of soil.   This condition exposed employees to a crushing hazard.      (c)   K.R. Swerdfeger Construction, Inc., at 1885 Fish Creek Road, Estes Park, Colorado 80517:  On or before July 15, 2015, the excavating and exposing employer did not ensure that each employee conducting work in an excavation was protected from possible wall cave-in, in that trench boxes were not installed in a continuous manner, thus leaving several sections inside the excavation unprotected.  This condition exposed employees to a crushing hazard.    K.R. Swerdfeger Construction, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of the same or substantially similar condition of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1926.652(a) (1) which was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 1048029, Citation Number 2, Item 1 issued on April 27, 2015, and became Final Order on May 27, 2015, with respect to a workplace located at Intersection South Prairie Avenue & Thatcher Avenue, Pueblo, Colorado 81005.