OSHA Inspection: MERKLING & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Issued

2015-12-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $2400.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.451(f)(3): Scaffolds and scaffold components shall be inspected for visible defects by a competent person before each work shift, and after any occurrence which could affect a scaffold's structural integrity:       (a) Merkling & Associates, Inc., @ 0026 Aster Court, Eagle, Colorado 81631. On or before July 6, 2015, as part of injury/accident prevention responsibilities, the prime/exposing interior finish carpentry employer did not ensure the mobile fabricated frame scaffold being used by the carpenters was inspected for visible defects by a competent person before allowing carpenters to work on it.  Due to lack of competent person inspections conducted on the mobile scaffold, carpenters were exposed to the hazard of falling from elevation while working on an unsafe mobile scaffold.  On July 6, 2015 a carpenter working from the mobile scaffold installing wood beams on the ceiling fell over the left side of the working platform which was missing the cross, horizontal, or diagonal braces, or combination thereof, or any other suitable guardrail system to safe guard each worker from falling approximately 6 feet to the floor. The carpenter suffered a fatal head injury.         Abatement Note:  Concerning the requirements and duties of a competent person:      (1)        "Competent person" means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.      (2)        The competent person must be able to carry out the tasks specified in the standard. In order to be able to carry out the tasks the competent person needs to have knowledge in the issues relating to the strength and structural integrity of the scaffold.  A competent person must be fully knowledgeable about erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining and inspecting the scaffold.      (3)        Section 1926.454 states that a competent person will select and train employees involved in erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining, or inspecting a scaffold. To meet this requirement, a competent person must be fully knowledgeable about erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining and inspecting the scaffold.

Issued

2015-12-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.451(f)(7): Scaffolds shall be erected, moved, dismantled, or altered only under the supervision and direction of a competent person qualified in scaffold erection, moving, dismantling or alteration. Such activities shall be performed only by experienced and trained employees selected for such work by the competent person.    (a) Merkling & Associates, Inc., @ 0026 Aster Court, Eagle, Colorado 81631. On or before July 6, 2015, as part of injury/accident prevention responsibilities, the prime/exposing interior finish carpentry employer did not ensure that the mobile fabricated frame scaffold was erected, moved, dismantled, or altered under the direct supervision and direction of a competent person qualified in scaffold erection, moving, dismantling, or alteration.  As a result, the mobile scaffold was not braced by cross, horizontal, or diagonal braces, or combination thereof, at each working platform to prevent workers from falling.  On July 6, 2015 a carpenter working from this mobile scaffold, who was installing wood beams on the ceiling, fell over the left side of the working platform approximately 6 feet to the floor. The carpenter suffered a fatal head injury.           Abatement Note:  Concerning the requirements and duties of a competent person:      (1)        "Competent person" means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.      (2)        The competent person must be able to carry out the tasks specified in the standard. In order to be able to carry out the tasks the competent person needs to have knowledge in the issues relating to the strength and structural integrity of the scaffold.  A competent person must be fully knowledgeable about erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining and inspecting the scaffold.      (3)        Section 1926.454 states that a competent person will select and train employees involved in erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining, or inspecting a scaffold. To meet this requirement, a competent person must be fully knowledgeable about erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining and inspecting the scaffold.

Issued

2015-12-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $2400.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.454(a):  The employer did not have each employee who performs work while on a scaffold(s) trained by a person qualified in the subject matter to recognize those hazards associated with the type of scaffold(s) being used and to understand the procedure(s) to control or minimize those hazards:      (a) Merkling & Associates, Inc., @ 0026 Aster Court, Eagle, Colorado 81631. On or before July 6, 2015, as part of injury/accident prevention responsibilities, the prime/exposing interior finish carpentry employer did not ensure each carpenter performing work on the mobile fabricated frame scaffold was provided with training by a person qualified in the subject matter to recognize those hazards associated with the type of scaffolds being used, and to understand the procedures to control or minimize those hazards. This condition exposed employees to the hazard of falling from elevation due to not recognizing the hazards of working on an unsafe mobile scaffold.  On July 6, 2015 a carpenter working from the mobile scaffold installing wood beams on the ceiling, fell over the left side of the working platform, which was missing the cross, horizontal, or diagonal braces, or combination thereof, or any other suitable guardrail system to safe guard each worker from falling approximately 6 feet to the floor. The carpenter suffered a fatal head injury.           Abatement Note: The training shall include the following elements at a minimum:      (1)  The nature of any electrical hazards, fall hazards, and falling object hazards in the work area;      (2)  The correct procedures for dealing with electrical hazards and for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling the fall protection systems and falling object protection systems being used:      (3)  The proper use of the scaffold, and the proper handling of materials on the scaffold;      (4)  The maximum intended load and the load-carrying capacities of the scaffold used; and      (5)  Any other pertinent requirements of this subpart.