OSHA Inspection: FIELDS EXCAVATING, INC.

Issued

Oct 30, 2019

Abate by

Nov 26, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,293 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.416(a)(3): Before work began, the employer did not ascertain by inquiry, direct observation, or by instruments, whether any part of an energized electric power circuit, exposed or concealed, was so located that the performance of the work could bring any person, tool, or machine into physical or electrical contact with the electric power circuit.    (a) Fields excavating Inc. located at Thornwood Crossing and Newark Granville Road, Granville, OH 43023: On and preceding October 15, 2019, the employer did not ascertain whether any part of an energized electric power circuit was located in a position which may bring a machine into contact with the electrical power circuit.  An excavator was being operated directly beneath an electric power circuit which was energized to 15kV.  The excavator which, based on the length of the boom/arm, was being used in a location where it could make contact with the energized and neutral/ground lines in the circuit.  The following condition exposed employees to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Oct 30, 2019

Abate by

Nov 26, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.600(a)(6): All equipment covered by this subpart shall comply with the following requirements when working or being moved in the vicinity of power lines or energized transmitters, except where electrical distribution and transmission lines have been deenergized and visibly grounded at point of work or where insulating barriers, not a part of or an attachment to the equipment or machinery, have been erected to prevent physical contact with the lines:    (a) Fields excavating Inc. located at Thornwood Crossing and Newark Granville Road, Granville, OH 43023: On and preceding October 15, 2019, the employer did not ensure the requirements outlined for equipment used in the vicinity of power lines were accomplished. An excavator was being operated directly beneath an electric power circuit which was energized to 15kV.  The excavator which, based on the length of the boom/arm, was being used in a location where it could make contact with the energized and neutral/ground lines in the circuit.  The following condition exposed employees to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Oct 30, 2019

Abate by

Nov 26, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,293 · Current $7,293

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 (.61m) 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) Fields excavating Inc. located at Thornwood Crossing and Newark Granville Road, Granville, OH 43023: On and preceding October 15, 2019, the employer did not ensure that protection was provided by placing and keeping excavated or other materials or equipment at least 2 feet from the edge of trench.  Employees were installing a sanitary sewer in a trench with the spoils pile and materials laying on the edge of the north and south edges of the trench.  Materials laying at the edge of the trench included loose soil, large clumps of dirt and a large pipe. The following condition exposed employees to struck-by/caught-in hazards.

Issued

Oct 30, 2019

Abate by

Nov 26, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,293 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(g)(1)(ii): Shields were not installed in a manner to restrict lateral or other hazardous movement of the shield in the event of the application of sudden lateral loads:    (a) Fields excavating Inc. located at Thornwood Crossing and Newark Granville Road, Granville, OH 43023: On and preceding October 15, 2019, the employer did not ensure that shields were installed in a manner that restricted lateral or other hazardous movement.  An employee was working inside an of a protective system which consisted of two 8 foot trench shields stacked on top of eachother with an additional 7-8 feet of dirt beyond the top shield.  The top trench shield and part of the bottom shield were spaced between 2 and 6 feet away from the north/south sides of the trench. The following condition exposed employees to struck-by/caught-in hazards.

Issued

Oct 30, 2019

Abate by

Nov 26, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(g)(1)(iii): Employees were not protected from the hazard of cave-ins when entering or exiting the area protected by shields:    (a) Fields excavating Inc. located at Thornwood Crossing and Newark Granville Road, Granville, OH 43023: On and preceding October 15, 2019, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from the hazard of cave-ins when entering or exiting the area protected by the trench shields. An employee was working inside of a protective system which consisted of two 8 foot trench shields stacked on top of eachother with an additional 7 feet of dirt beyond the top shield.  Access to the inside of the trench shield was an extension ladder which was laid against the west wall of the trench with the 7 feet of unprotected dirt on the section descending into the trench shields. The following condition exposed employees to struck-by/caught-in hazards.

Issued

Oct 30, 2019

Abate by

Nov 26, 2019

Penalty

Initial $10,210 · Current $10,210

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) Fields excavating Inc. located at Thornwood Crossing and Newark Granville Road, Granville, OH 43023: On and preceding October 15, 2019, the employer representative/designated competent person on site did not removed an exposed employee from hazardous conditions with the trench that he was aware of. An employee was working in a trench which varied between 20-22 feet deep as a part of a part of a sanitary sewer installation.  The protective system inside of the trench was incomplete and spoils/materials were laying on the edge of the north and south edges of the trench. The following condition exposed employees to struck-by/caught-in hazards.

Issued

Oct 30, 2019

Abate by

Nov 26, 2019

Penalty

Initial $20,420 · Current $18,260 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) Fields excavating Inc. located at Thornwood Crossing and Newark Granville Road, Granville, OH 43023: On and preceding October 15, 2019, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from the hazard of cave-ins by an adequate protective system. An employee was working inside an of a trench with a protective system consisting of two 8 foot trench shields stacked on top of eachother with an additional 7 feet of dirt beyond the top shield. The following condition exposed employees to struck-by/caught-in hazards.    Fields Excavating, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent 29 CFR 1926.652(a)(1) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1097464, citation number 1, Item 1b, issued October 28, 2015 and became a final order on November 18, 2015 with respect to a workplace located at 428 Jefferson Street  Pataskala, OH 43062.