OSHA Inspection: PURGATORY RECREATION MANAGEMENT, LLC

Issued

Sep 13, 2017

Abate by

Oct 10, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,243 · Current $1,000 Reduced

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:    a) On or about July 24, 2017, employees of the Mountain Operations Alpha Trail/Saw crew were exposed to injury when performing traffic control duties related to tree felling operations.  Employees responsible for traffic control had not been trained in traffic control techniques, device usage and placement;    b) On or about July 24, 2017, employees of the Mountain Operations Alpha Trail/Saw crew were exposed to injury when performing traffic control duties, and otherwise exposed to vehicle traffic, without proper bright reflective clothing.          Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Sep 13, 2017

Abate by

Sep 19, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $12,675

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.266(d)(6)(i): Employees were not spaced and the duties of each employee were not organized so that the actions of one employee would not create a hazard for any other employee:  a)  On or about July 24, 2017, employees engaged in bucking and swamping of a felled tree were exposed to struck-by hazards where the work of the employees was not organized or spaced so that the actions of an employee bucking a separate tree did not create a hazard.  A tree being felled/bucked on an adjacent hill side fell into the employees' work area, striking one of the employees.

Issued

Sep 13, 2017

Abate by

Sep 19, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.266(d)(6)(ii): A distance greater than two tree lengths was not maintained between adjacent occupied work areas on any slope where rolling or sliding of trees or logs was reasonably foreseeable:  a) On or about July 24, 2017, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards where a distance of at least two tree lengths was not maintained between felling and bucking operations. A tree being felled/bucked on an adjacent hill side fell into the work area of employees bucking a separate tree, striking one of the employees.

Issued

Sep 13, 2017

Abate by

Sep 19, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.266(d)(6)(iii): Each employee performing a logging operation at a logging work site did not work in a position or location that was within visual or audible contact with another employee:  a)  On or about July 24, 2017, employees engaged in bucking and swamping a tree that had been felled into a roadway were not within visual or audible contact with an employee bucking/felling a tree on an adjacent hillside. Employees in the roadway were unable to see or hear warnings of a tree falling into their work area, contributing to an employee being struck by a falling tree.

Issued

Sep 13, 2017

Abate by

Sep 19, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.266(h)(2)(ii): Before each tree is felled, conditions such as, but not limited to, snow and ice accumulation, the wind, the lean of tree, dead limbs, and the location of other trees, was not evaluated by the feller and precautions taken so a hazard is not created for an employee:  a)  On or about July 24, 2017, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards where prior to felling a tree on a hillside, conditions surrounding a tree were not adequately evaluated for potential hazard to employees.  The felled tree became hung up on neighboring trees and/or other obstacles and did not fall completely to the ground. Subsequent bucking and felling of the tree resulted in the tree falling into the work area of a crew on the road below, striking a crew member.