OSHA Inspection: ACQUEST CONSTRUCTION LLC

Issued

Jul 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,803 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.502(b)(3): Guardrail systems were not capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied within 2 inches (5.1 cm) of the top edge, in any outward or downward direction, at any point along the top edge:      a) On or about 1/11/17 on the exterior deck/balcony of unit 313 and other second and third story exterior decks/balconies of a 3- story apartment building under construction at 408 Mill St., Williamsville,NY:  Temporary  wood guardrails were installed  along the two open sides of the decks/balconies  to protect workers from falls of approx.  11 ft.  from second story exterior decks /balconies to approx.  21 ft. 6 in. from third story exterior decks/balconies.   On the unit 313 deck/balcony, the guardrail system consisted of one vertical 6 x 6 inch wood structural post in the northeast corner, one vertical wood  2x 4 nailed into the wall of the mechanical room at the northwest corner of the deck/balcony,  one vertical wood  2x 4 nailed into the wall of the building at the southeast corner of the deck/balcony.  Horizontal wood 2 x 4 toprails, and horizontal wood 2 x 4 midrails were nailed into the vertical members  to form the guardrail system .  The horizontal spans of the toprails and midrails on the outside end of the decks /balconies were approx.  11 feet  4 inches. The horizontal spans of the toprails and midrails on the east side of the unit  313 deck/balcony were approx.  9 feet 3 inches. The horizontal spans  on the toprails and midrails of unit 313 deck/balcony and all other decks/balconies  were greater  than the 8 foot  span between vertical posts  recommended  for wooden guardrails in Appendix  B of  Subpart M of this standard.  Additionally, all the top and mid rails were nailed on the outside of the vertical posts of the unit 313 deck/balcony and most of the other decks/balconies.  Some decks/balconies had top and/or midrails that had failed ,were missing, or had been spliced . Most decks /balconies had identical dimensions.   An employee fell   21 ft. 6 in. when both the top and midrail failed on the north end of the unit 313 deck/balcony.          NO ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

Jul 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.502(b)(5): Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, and equivalent structural members shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 150 pounds (666 N) applied in any downward or outward direction at any point along the midrail or other member:      a) On or about 1/11/17 on the exterior deck/balcony of unit 313 and other second and third story exterior decks/balconies of a 3- story apartment building under construction at 408 Mill St., Williamsville,NY:  Temporary  wood guardrails were installed  along the two open sides of the decks/balconies  to protect workers from falls of approx.  11 ft.  from second story exterior decks /balconies to approx.  21 ft. 6 in. from third story exterior decks/balconies.   On the unit 313 deck/balcony, the guardrail system consisted of one vertical 6 x 6 inch wood structural post in the northeast corner, one vertical wood  2x 4 nailed into the wall of the mechanical room at the northwest corner of the deck/balcony,  one vertical wood  2x 4 nailed into the wall of the building at the southeast corner of the deck/balcony.  Horizontal wood 2 x 4 toprails, and horizontal wood 2 x 4 midrails were nailed into the vertical members  to form the guardrail system .  The horizontal spans of the toprails and midrails on the outside end of the decks /balconies were approx.  11 feet  4 inches. The horizontal spans of the toprails and midrails on the east side of the unit  313 deck/balcony were approx.  9 feet 3 inches. The horizontal spans  on the toprails and midrails of unit 313 deck/balcony and all other decks/balconies  were greater  than the 8 foot  span between vertical posts  recommended  for wooden guardrails in Appendix  B of  Subpart M of this standard.  Additionally, all the top and mid rails were nailed on the outside of the vertical posts of the unit 313 deck/balcony and most of the other decks/balconies.  Some decks/balconies had top and/or midrails that had failed ,were missing, or had been spliced . Most decks /balconies had identical dimensions.   An employee fell   21 ft. 6 in. when both the top and midrail failed on the north end of the unit 313 deck/balcony.          NO ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED