OSHA Inspection: SWINGEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Issued

Nov 27, 2020

Abate by

Dec 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $10,390 · Current $7,237 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1425(c)(1): The materials being hoisted were not rigged to prevent unintentional displacement:  (a)Swingen Construction Company, Inc. at 924 West Sioux Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501: On or about and at times prior to September 10, 2020, the employer did not ensure material hoisted by a 110-ton Manitowoc lattice boom crane was rigged to prevent unintentional displacement. On September 10, 2020, an employee was seriously injured after being struck-by an H-beam weighing approximately 2,900 pounds that was not rigged adequately to prevent displacement. Employees were using the open hooks of a two-legged chain rigging assembly connected to the bottom flange of an H-beam to lift one end to shift it closer to an adjacent beam to facilitate welding.  As the crane lifted the end of the beam, the tack weld failed causing the H-beam to roll out of the rigging hooks and fall on an employee who was signaling the crane. This condition exposed employees to a struck-by hazard.

Issued

Nov 27, 2020

Abate by

Dec 23, 2020

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)Swingen Construction Company, Inc., at 924 West Sioux Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501: On or about and at times prior to September 10, 2020, the employer did not ensure employees were instructed in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions related to struck-by hazards associated with using a 110-ton Manitowoc lattice boom crane and a two-legged chain rigging assembly to lift a structural steel beam. Employees utilized the crane and rigging in an attempt to lift one end of a 2,900 pound H-beam into place to facilitate final welding connections. The crew attached the open hooks to the bottom flange of the beam to minimize the gap between two beams to facilitate welding. As the crane lifted the beam, the resulting lifting force caused the tack welds to fail which resulted in the H-beam to roll out and separate from the hooks of the chain sling and fall, pinning one employee to the ground. This condition exposed an employee to a struck-by hazard and led to a lower leg amputation.