OSHA Inspection: UNDERGROUND SPECIALISTS INC

Issued

Oct 13, 2021

Abate by

Nov 8, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $0 Reduced

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:  The employer is failing to protect employees from struck-by and cave-in hazards while in excavations. This was most recently documented on or about July 02, 2021 at Underground Specialists, Inc. jobsite located at 2015 Andover Dr. Garden City, Kansas.  The employer did not ensure that employees were adequately trained to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions while working on the site.  Employees were exposed to various hazards related to working in a Type C soil excavation to include cave-in, struck-by, and ladder hazards.

Issued

Oct 13, 2021

Abate by

Nov 8, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $7,646 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 (1.22m) or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet (7.62m) of lateral travel for employees:  The employer is failing to protect employees from struck-by and cave-in hazards while in excavations. This was most recently documented on or about July 02, 2021 at Underground Specialists, Inc. jobsite located at 2015 Andover Dr. Garden City, Kansas.  An employee entered an excavation that measured approximately 5 feet in depth to assist a backhoe operator locate and expose a water line.  The employee descended into the excavation by climbing.

Issued

Oct 13, 2021

Abate by

Nov 8, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $8,601 Reduced

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, or by a combination of both if necessary:  The employer is failing to protect employees from struck-by hazards while in excavations. This was most recently documented on or about July 02, 2021 at Underground Specialists, Inc. jobsite located at 2015 Andover Dr. Garden City, Kansas  The excavation was not equipped with methods and/or devices to prevent inadvertent entry of equipment.  The Case 580 Super N WT backhoe rolled into the excavation when the excavation wall collapsed.

Issued

Oct 13, 2021

Abate by

Nov 8, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $4,779 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:  The employer is failing to protect employees from struck-by and cave-in hazards while in excavations. This was most recently documented on or about July 02, 2021 at Underground Specialists, Inc. jobsite located at 2015 Andover Dr. Garden City, Kansas. Where the employees engaged in exposing a sewer line in that an inspection of the excavation that was approximately five foot deep was not conducted by a competent person.

Issued

Oct 13, 2021

Abate by

Nov 8, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $7,646 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(a)(1)(ii):  Each employee in an excavation was not protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with paragraph 29 CFR 1926.652(b) or 29 CFR 1926.652(c) of this section except when: excavations are less than 5 feet (1.52 m) in depth and examination of the ground by a competent person provides no indication of a potential cave-in:  The employer is failing to protect employees from caught-in and cave-in hazards while in excavations. This was most recently documented on or about July 02, 2021 at Underground Specialists, Inc. jobsite located at 2015 Andover Dr. Garden City, Kansas. Where the employees engaged in exposing a sewer line in that an excavation which showed obvious signs of a cave-in. There was no shoring, no sloping, and no trench box.