OSHA Inspection: JUNIPER LANDSCAPING, INC.

Issued

2016-04-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-04-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6300.00 · Current $6300.00

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to electrocution hazards while lifting palm trees off of truck trailers.  For the establishment at 203 S Jackson Ave., Venice, FL 34292, as occurring on or about 01/29/2016, two employees was exposed to electric shock, and one was hospitalized as a result of a palm tree contacting a power line. The following hazards were present:  a)  Employees are not trained to recognize electrical hazards. Two employees grabbed onto an energized truck trailer not realizing that the palm tree that contacted an overhead power line could energize the truck trailer. Employees were also not aware of what safe clearance distances from power lines were and had not received electrical safety training.  b) Trailers with palm trees of up to 25 feet were unloaded underneath or in the vicinity of power lines. The unloading area had a power line traverse above the area. On 01/29/2016, a truck trailer unloaded a palm tree that was approximately 25 feet high, and the palm tree contacted overhead transmission lines at voltages of 13,200 volts phase to ground. Two employees received electric shock and one employee was hospitalized as a result. Signage that warned of overhead power lines was not available, and overhead power lines ran throughout the property. The unloading of trees was a normal occurrence from truck trailers.