OSHA Inspection: FECHKO EXCAVATING, LLC

Issued

May 2, 2018

Penalty

Initial $4,398 · Current $3,079 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(e): Exposure to falling loads. No employee shall be permitted underneath loads handled by lifting or digging equipment. Employees shall be required to stand away from any vehicle being loaded or unloaded to avoid being struck by any spillage or falling materials. Operators may remain in the cabs of vehicles being loaded or unloaded when the vehicles are equipped, in accordance with 1926.601(b)(6), to provide adequate protection for the operator during loading and unloading operations.  On or about April 9, 2018, during the installation of a sanitary sewer line at approximately 7335 Ridge Road, Parma, Ohio, the employer failed to ensure an employee working inside a trench was not permitted from working underneath a trench shield system (trench box) that was suspended from an excavator.

Issued

May 2, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(g)(1)(ii): Shields shall be installed in a manner to restrict lateral or other hazardous movement of the shield in the event of the application of sudden lateral loads.  On or about April 9, 2018, during the installation of a sanitary sewer line at approximately 7335 Ridge Road, Parma, Ohio, the employer failed to ensure a trench shield system (trench box) used to protect an employee from cave-ins was installed in a manner to restrict lateral or other hazardous movement in the event of the application of sudden lateral loads.  The employee was working inside a trench box was suspended inside the trench from an excavator.

Issued

May 2, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(g)(2): Additional requirement for shield systems used in trench excavations. Excavations of earth material to a level not greater than 2 feet (.61 m) below the bottom of a shield shall be permitted, but only if the shield is designed to resist the forces calculated for the full depth of the trench, and there are no indications while the trench is open of a possible loss of soil from behind or below the bottom of the shield.   On or about April 9, 2018, during the installation of a sanitary sewer line at approximately 7335 Ridge Road, Parma, Ohio, the employer failed to ensure a trench shield system (trench box) used to protect an employee from cave-ins was installed no greater than 2 feet from the bottom of a trench.  The trench box was held approximately 2.3 feet above the bottom of the trench.