OSHA Inspection: HEARTLAND CONSTRUCTION

Issued

Feb 2, 2016

Abate by

Mar 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $420 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:  a.  On the site where chemicals such as glues and sealants were used to install roofing materials, the employer did not develop and maintain a written Hazard Communication program to inform employees of information and training to handle these chemicals thereby exposing the employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Feb 2, 2016

Abate by

Mar 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets.  a.  On the site where chemicals such as, but not limited to, glues and resins were handled by employees to install roofing, the employer did not provide hazard communication training thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Feb 2, 2016

Abate by

Feb 12, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.404(f)(6): Grounding path. The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures shall be permanent and continuous.  a.  On the roof of Martins Ferry Post Office, the extension cord plugged in and being used for providing power from the generator to the portable tools did not have a ground pin thereby exposing employees to a electrical hazard.

Issued

Feb 2, 2016

Abate by

Feb 12, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $420 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.405(g)(1)(iii): Prohibited uses. Unless necessary for a use permitted in paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this section, flexible cords and cables shall not be used:  29 CFR 1926.405(g)(1)(iii)(C): Where run through doorways, windows, or similar openings, except as permitted in paragraph (a)(2)(ii)(1) of this section;  a.  On the roof of the Post Office where extension cords were used for providing power to portable tools, the employer ran the extension cord through the roof hatch and then closed the roof hatch down on the extension cord pinching the cord between the opening and the edge of the roof hatch thereby exposing employees to a electrical hazard.

Issued

Feb 2, 2016

Abate by

Feb 12, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $980 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(3): "Hoist areas." Each employee in a hoist area shall be protected from falling 6 feet (1.8 m) or more to lower levels by guardrail systems or personal fall arrest systems. If guardrail systems, [or chain, gate, or guardrail] or portions thereof, are removed to facilitate the hoisting operation (e.g., during landing of materials), and an employee must lean through the access opening or out over the edge of the access opening (to receive or guide equipment and materials, for example), that employee shall be protected from fall hazards by a personal fall arrest system.  a.  On the roof where employees were removing roofing materials and throwing the materials over the side of the roof, the employees were working directly at the edge of the roof without fall protection corrected thereby exposing employees to a fall hazard.

Issued

Feb 2, 2016

Abate by

Feb 12, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $560 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.502(j)(7)(i): Materials and equipment shall not be stored within 6 feet (1.8 m) of a roof edge unless guardrails are erected at the edge.  a.  On the roof where roofing and insulation were removed from the post office roof and were being replaced with new roofing materials, the employer placed roofing material outside the warning line and directly at the edge of the roof thereby exposing employees to a struck-by hazard

Issued

Feb 2, 2016

Abate by

Feb 12, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.503(a)(2): The employer shall assure that each employee has been trained, as necessary, by a competent person qualified in the following areas:  29 CFR 1926.503(a)(2)(ii): The correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall protection systems to be used;  a.  On the roof of the Martins Ferry Post Office where employees were tearing off and installing a new flat roof, the employer did not train the employees in the correct procedures for installing fall protection and the proper methods to installing a warning line thereby exposing employees to a fall hazard.

Issued

Feb 2, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $980 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1): When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface, the ladder side rails shall extend at least 3 feet (.9 m) above the upper landing surface to which the ladder is used to gain access; or, when such an extension is not possible because of the ladder's length, then the ladder shall be secured at its top to a rigid support that will not deflect, and a grasping device, such as a grabrail, shall be provided to assist employees in mounting and dismounting the ladder. In no case shall the extension be such that ladder deflection under a load would, by itself, cause the ladder to slip off its support.  a.  On the side of the building where employees accessed the roof, the side rails were not three feet above the roof landing thereby exposing employees to a fall hazard.

Issued

Feb 2, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $2,660 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.502(f)(1): The warning line shall be erected around all sides of the roof work area.    a.  On the back of the Post Office roof where employees were laying insulation while installing a roof, the employer did not install a warning line system thereby exposing employees to a 19 foot fall hazard.      The Heartland Construction Company was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(10) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 980633, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on September 5, 2014, with respect to a workplace located at 236 Otterbein Dr. Lexington, Ohio 44904.

Issued

Feb 2, 2016

Abate by

Feb 12, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.502(f)(1)(i): When mechanical equipment is not being used, the warning line shall be erected not less than 6 feet (1.8 m) from the roof edge.    a.  On the roof where employees were tearing off the roof, the warning lines on the roof were installed at 4 feet or less thereby exposing employees to a 19 foot fall hazard.