OSHA Inspection: ALEXANDER DRILLING INC.

Issued

Dec 17, 2021

Abate by

Feb 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $10,000 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)Alexander Drilling, Inc. at 24450 Nellie Lane in Keystone, SD 57751: On or about and at times prior to July 26, 2021, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from cave-in hazards by use of an appropriate protective system.  On July 26, 2021, an employee was attempting to connect piping from an existing well to a new well in a two-foot wide by approximately six feet deep trench excavation when it caved in, trapping the employee up to their lower torso within the trench. This condition exposed employees to cave-in hazards.

Issued

Dec 17, 2021

Abate by

Feb 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.651(i)(2): Excavation below the level of the base or footing of any foundation or retaining wall that was reasonably expected to pose a hazard to the employees was permitted:  (a)Alexander Drilling, Inc. at 24450 Nellie Lane in Keystone, SD 57751: On or about and at times prior to July 26, 2021, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from cave-in and stuck-by hazards in that, the approximate 34-inch tall retaining wall adjacent to the excavation was not supported. The trench wall adjacent to the retaining wall failed, causing the unsupported soil and retaining wall blocks to fall on an employee working in the excavation. This condition exposed one employee to cave-in and struck-by hazards.  Abatement Note: Work within an excavation with an adjacent retaining wall shall not be permitted except when:  (i)  A support system, such as underpinning, is provided to ensure the safety of employees and the stability of the structure; or  (ii)  The excavation is in stable rock; or  (iii)  A registered professional engineer has approved the determination that the structure is sufficiently removed from the excavation so as to be unaffected by the excavation activity; or  (iv)  A registered professional engineer has approved the determination that such excavation work will not pose a hazard to employees.

Issued

Dec 17, 2021

Abate by

Feb 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  (a)Alexander Drilling, Inc. at 24450 Nellie Lane in Keystone, SD 57751: On or about and at times prior to July 26, 2021, the employer did not ensure a competent person inspected the excavation prior to start of work and during each shift in that, the competent person did not identify the lack of an appropriate protective system and unsupported retaining wall and did not take prompt corrective action to eliminate the  hazards. This condition exposed an employee to cave-in and struck-by hazards.  Abatement Note:  "Competent person" means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.