OSHA Inspection: GREEN EARTH CONSTRUCTION LLC

Issued

Mar 29, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,217 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2): The employer did not initiate and maintain programs which provided for frequent and regular inspections of the job site, materials and equipment to be made by a competent person(s):         a) On or about 10/21/17, on jobsite at a house located at 1059 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY:  Employees were engaged in construction activities that involved the demolition of a  heavy roof containing cedar, slate, & ashphalt, and the installation of a replacement roof  with plywood sheathing  and ashphalt  shingles. There was also carpentry work being done in the attic to shore up the framework of a dormer that had sagged below the main roof line.  Frequent and regular inspections of this jobsite, materials, and equipment were not made.      NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 29, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2): The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his/her environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury:   a) On or about 10/21/17, on jobsite at a house located at 1059 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY:   Employees engaged in construction work including but not limited to the repair of wood  framing members in the attic, and demolishing a roof containing a layer of cedar, layer of slate, and layers of ashphalt shingles, were not trained to recognize potential hazards on this type of jobsite, including but not limited to the danger of collapse of masonry chimneys due to missing bricks and crumbling mortar, the hazards posed by damaged/deformed  framing members,  and the duty to regularly inspect tools/equipment such as but not limited to car jacks for defects , and to use them  only for purposes that the manufacturer intended .  Additionally, employees were not trained in the applicable OSHA regulations to control or eliminate these hazards.  NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 29, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,217 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.305(d)(1)(vi): Jacks which were out of order were being used before repairs were made:        a) On or about 10/21/17, on jobsite at a house located at 1059 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY:  A trolley jack designed to lift up a portion of a vehicle was instead  used  in the attic to move deformed  &  sagging roof rafters back into position.  One of the four wheels on the jack was missing.        NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 29, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.850(a): Prior to permitting employees to start demolition operations, an engineering survey was not made by a competent person of the structure to determine the condition of the framing, floors, and walls, and possibility of unplanned collapse of any portion of the structure, including adjacent structures where employees may be exposed. The employer did not have in writing evidence that such a survey was performed:      a) On or about 10/21/17, on jobsite at a house located at 1059 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY:   Employees had started and almost completed the demolition of a heavy roof consisting of cedar planking , layer(s ) of slate, and a layer(s) of ashphalt shingles. The roof provided some support to a masonry chimney  that went up through the attic and through the center ridge of the roof.  Employees  were in the attic attempting to shore up roof rafters  of a dormer that had sagged below the main roof line, and were using a car jack in an attempt  to  move them  back into place and then secure them.  Just after an employee operated the jack, the chimney toppled over and an employee in the attic was buried under the bricks and severely injured.  No engineering survey of the structure was made prior to the demolition of the roof.              NO ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 29, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2): The employer failed to report the in-patient hospitalization of one or more employees as a result of a work-related incident, within (24) twenty-four hours.      a) On 10/21/17 on a construction jobsite at 1059 Ellicott Street , Buffalo, NY: An employee was involved in a work-related incident involving a chimney collapse, which resulted in a hospital admission on 10/21/17. OSHA was notified of the event on 11/07/17, from a different source.      NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED