OSHA Inspection: NELSON PIPELINE CONSTRUCTORS LLC

Issued

Aug 16, 2021

Abate by

Sep 10, 2021

Penalty

Initial $10,533 · Current $10,533

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2): The employer did not initiate and maintain programs which provided for frequent and regular inspections of the job site, materials and equipment to be made by a competent person(s):   1) On or about April 27, 2021, and at times prior, Nelson Pipeline Constructors LLC, did not conduct frequent and regular inspections of the job-site so as to ensure employees were protected from equipment failure hazards while engaged in excavation and trenching operations. Employees were exposed to the hazard of an unexpected release of an excavator bucket from a quick coupling device. An employee was hospitalized when he was struck-by an excavator bucket that became detached from a quick coupler device.  Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable methods to abate the hazard are to:  a) Develop, implement, and require the use of procedures for locking an attachment, procedures to ensure the attachment is properly locked, and procedures for inspecting the locking mechanism, such as listed in the JRB SmartLoc hydraulic quick coupler Operator's Handbook, to ensure that an unexpected release of an excavator bucket from a quick coupling device does not occur.  b) Ensure that employees do not stand under suspended machine components such as the boom, arm, or bucket, such as stated in the NIOSH document "Preventing Injuries When Working with Hydraulic Excavators and Backhoe Loaders".

Issued

Aug 16, 2021

Abate by

Sep 10, 2021

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 condition(s) and the regulation(s) applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazard(s) or other exposure to illness or injury:  1) On or about April 27, 2021, and at times prior, the employer did not instruct employees on the methods to avoid the hazard of an unexpected release of an excavator bucket from a quick coupling device on a hydraulic excavator, such as the methods contained in the quick coupler Operator's Handbook, which include procedures for locking an attachment, procedures for performing a ground test of the coupler prior to operation to ensure attachments are properly locked, and a requirement to inspect the locking mechanism daily.  Nelson Pipeline Constructors LLC exposed employees to struck-by hazards.