OSHA Inspection: PETERSON EXCAVATING LLC

Issued

2017-07-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2716.00 · Current $2037.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(c)(2): A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of egress was not located in trench excavations that were 4 feet (1.22m) or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet (7.62m) of lateral travel for employees:  (a) Excavation on the Northwest Corner of Cumberland Highway and Mountain Road - Employees worked throughout the excavation, 5 feet 8 inches deep and 37 to 39 feet long, installing and then operating the McLaughlin Mighty Mole horizontal boring machine.  This excavation only had one safe means of egress, a ramp, located at the northwest corner, and no other safe means of egress, exposing the employees to getting trapped in the event of a cave-in or other hazardous situation, on or about May 19, 2017.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2017-07-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2716.00 · Current $2037.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances S777

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) Excavation on the Northwest Corner of Cumberland Highway and Mountain Road - Employees worked in the excavation, dug in Type B soil, to install the McLaughlin Mighty Mole horizontal boring machine, which included installing tracks and assembling the boring machine as well as welding together the sections of casing for the auger.  Employees also worked in the excavation to operate the McLaughlin Mighty Mole boring machine.  This excavation had a depth of 5 feet 8 inches, a bottom width averaging 12 feet, a length ranging from 37 to 39 feet, and a top width ranging from 14 to 18 feet.  The excavation did not have an adequate protective system in that the benching system used did not correspond to a maximum allowable slope of 1:1 or 45 degrees, exposing the employees to a cave-in hazard, on or about May 19, 2017.  Specifically, the benching system had the following deficiency:  the first bench from the bottom had a vertical height of 4 feet and a horizontal width of 2 feet, which corresponded to a slope of 71 degrees.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.