OSHA Inspection: PLUMBLINE SERVICES

Issued

Nov 7, 2017

Abate by

Dec 5, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,519 · Current $4,204 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 or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet of lateral travel for employees:    (a)  Plumbline Services at 4177 North King Street, Denver, CO 80211:  On or before September 7, 2017, the exposing employer did not ensure that a means of egress was provided to employees working inside of the trench.  Employees were laying pipe and spreading pipe cover in a trench approximately 25 feet long and 3 feet wide, and measuring in depth from 5.2 feet to 8.5 feet, with vertical walls, without a safe means of egress.  This condition exposed employees to the cave-in and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Nov 7, 2017

Abate by

Dec 5, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,149 · Current $5,296 Reduced

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) Plumbline Services at 4177 North King Street, Denver, CO 80211:  On or before September 7, 2017, the exposing employer did not ensure that employees working inside a trench with vertical walls were protected from cave-in hazards.  Employees were laying sewer pipe and spreading pipe cover in a trench approximately 25 feet long and 3 feet wide, and measuring in depth from 5.2 feet to 8.5 feet, with vertical walls, without an adequate protective system.  This condition exposed employees to the cave-in and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Nov 7, 2017

Abate by

Dec 5, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(k)(1): Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems were not made by a competent person for evidence of a situation that could have resulted in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems:  (a) Plumbline Services at 4177 North King Street, Denver, CO 80211:  On or before September 7, 2017,  the exposing employer did not ensure that daily inspections of excavations and protective systems were performed by a competent person for evidence of a situation that could have resulted in possible cave-ins and failure of protective systems.  Employees were laying pipe and spreading pipe cover in a trench approximately 25 feet long and 3 feet wide, and measuring in depth from 5.2 feet to 8.5 feet, with vertical walls, without an adequate protective system.  This condition exposed employees to cave-in and struck-by hazards.  OSHA defines a "competent person" as someone capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

Issued

Nov 7, 2017

Abate by

Dec 5, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(e)(1)(ii): Support systems were not installed and removed in a manner that protected employees from cave-ins, structural collapses, or from being struck by members of the support system:  (a) Plumbline Services at 4177 North King Street, Denver, CO 80211: On or before September 7, 2017, the exposing employer did not ensure that the shoring system being used was properly installed to ensure that employees were fully protected from cave-in hazards.  Employees working inside the shoring system were not protected from a potential cave-in of the west wall of the trench. The shoring system was installed approximately 3 feet from the vertical west wall that was approximately 8.5 feet in height.  In addition, the shoring system was installed with a missing waler.  This condition exposed employees to the cave-in and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Nov 7, 2017

Abate by

Dec 5, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(j)(2): Protection was not provided by placing and keeping excavated or other materials or equipment at least 2 feet from the edge of excavations, or by the use of retaining devices that were sufficient to prevent materials or equipment from falling or rolling into excavations, or by a combination of both if necessary:  (a) Plumbline Services at 4177 North King Street, Denver, CO 80211:  On or before September 7, 2017, the exposing employer did not ensure that employees were protected from injury, in that soil was stacked within 2 feet of the edge of the excavation for over 25 feet. The soil was measured to consistently be approximately 12 inches from the edge of the excavation that ranged in depth from 5.2 feet to 8.5 feet, with vertical walls.  This condition exposed employees to the hazard of the soil falling into the trench or causing the trench to collapse.