OSHA Inspection: MAYES & SONS PLUMBING CO.

Issued

Mar 19, 2020

Penalty

Initial $8,096 · Current $0 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 (1.22 m) or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet (7.62 m) of lateral travel for employees:       On or about January 09, 2020, employees using a warming torch to thaw a sewer line at a depth of approximately 5.5 to 7 were not provided a safe way to exit the trench. Equipment such as, but not limited to; a ladder for entering or exiting the trench was not available at the site location.

Issued

Mar 19, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $4,724 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(j)(1): Adequate protection was not provided to protect employees from loose rock or soil that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling from an excavation face.  Such protection did not consist of scaling to remove loose material; installation of protective barricades at intervals as necessary on the face to stop and contain falling material; or other means that provide equivalent protection:    On or about January 09, 2020, while in the process of using a warming torch to thaw a sewer line, an employee who was working at the excavation face; was not protected from hazards created by loose material falling and/or rolling into the trench. Soil sloughing was visibly at the excavation face.

Issued

Mar 19, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $4,724 Reduced

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:      On or about January 09, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that employees in the process of unthawing a sewer line at a residential property located at 13611 Ellwood Ave. in Cleveland, OH, were protected from excavated material (the spoil pile) falling and/or rolling into the trench. The spoil pile was placed at the edge of the trench.

Issued

Mar 19, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $4,724 Reduced

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, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions:    On or about January 09, 2020, an inspection of the trench was not conducted by a competent person as needed throughout the shift for evidence of situations that could result in possible cave-ins. While in the process of completing plumbing activities, which required employees to dig a trench in order to unthaw a sewer line; soil sloughing was visible at the excavation face.

Issued

Mar 19, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $4,724 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):    On or about January 09,2020, at a jobsite located at 13611 Ellwood Ave. in Cleveland, OH; the employer did not ensure that adequate cave-in protection was used to protect employees working inside of a trench which varied in depths of 5.5 to 7 feet, during plumbing activities that required the thawing of a sewer line. Additionally a ladder, which could have been used for entry and/or egress was available at the jobsite thus increasing the potential of exposure to hazards created by the inadequately protected trench.