OSHA Inspection: JEROME BOWEN CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Issued

Feb 22, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $9,282

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.100(a): Employees were not protected by protective helmets while working in areas where there was a possible danger of head injury from impact, or from falling or flying objects, or from electrical shock and burns.    (a)  On or about September 6, 2018, and at times prior thereto, while working inside of an approximate 7-8 foot deep trench with vertical to undercut walls, employees were working below loose soil, hand tools and plumbing equipment.    Note: Abatement certification is not required for this item.  Corrected During Inspection

Issued

Feb 22, 2019

Abate by

Feb 28, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(j)(2): Employees were not protected from excavated or other materials or equipment that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into excavations. Protection by placing and keeping such materials or equipment at least 2 feet from the edge of excavations, or by the use of retaining devices that are sufficient to prevent materials or equipment from falling or rolling into excavations, or by a combination of both if necessary was not provided.    a) On or about September 6, 2018, and at times prior thereto, The aluminum box cover with concrete weighing on the base was directly adjacent to the top edge of the excavation wall.     NOTE: Abatement certification AND supporting documentation are required for this item.

Issued

Feb 22, 2019

Abate by

Feb 28, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(k)(2): Where the competent person found evidence of a situation that could result in possible cave-in, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions, exposed employee(s) was/were not removed from the hazardous area until the necessary precautions have been taken to ensure their safety.    a) On or about September 6, 2018, and at times prior thereto, the supervisor and the foreman (competent persons) directed work in an unprotected excavation between 7 and 8 feet deep with vertical and undercut walls.  An employee was working to repair a water line.  The excavation had water accumulation, wet and previously excavated soils, and evidence of cracking and fissuring walls.  An aluminum box with concrete base was immediately adjacent to the top of the excavation, with a busy highway nearby.    NOTE: Abatement certification AND supporting documentation are required for this item.

Issued

Feb 22, 2019

Abate by

Mar 6, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,630 · Current $6,630

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(b)(1):  The estimated location of utility installations, such as sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any other underground installations that reasonably may be expected to be encountered during excavation work, was not determined prior to opening an excavation.    (a)  On or about September 6, 2018, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not contact dig line to have underground utility lines located before digging an approximate 7-8 foot deep trench near natural gas lines.    Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Feb 22, 2019

Abate by

Feb 28, 2019

Penalty

Initial $56,826 · Current $21,044 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 are 4 feet (1.22 m) or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet (7.62 m) of lateral travel for employees.    a) On or about September 6, 2018, and at times prior thereto, employees were working to install a sewer line in an unprotected trench with vertical walls at a depth ranging from 7 to 8 feet.  Employees jumped in and/or used water lines in the trench to climb out.    Abatement certification AND supporting documentation are required for this item.

Issued

Feb 22, 2019

Abate by

Feb 28, 2019

Penalty

Initial $66,299 · Current $21,044 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 paragraph (b) or (c) of this section:    a) On or about September 6, 2018, and at times prior thereto, employees were working in a trench that was approximately 7 to 8 feet in depth, with vertical to undercut walls.  The excavation did not have any protective system in place.     NOTE: Abatement certification AND supporting documentation are required for this item.