OSHA Inspection: H & W CONTRACTING, L.L.C.

Issued

May 4, 2022

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $11,167 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.651(k)(2): Where the competent person found evidence of a situation that could result in possible cave-in, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions, exposed employees were not removed from the hazardous area until the necessary precautions had been taken to ensure their safety:  (a)H & W Contracting, L.L.C. at 271st Street and Kerslake Place, Tea, SD 57064:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2021, the competent person failed to remove four employees from potential harm when multiple hazardous conditions were evident and in plain sight.  Employees, including the competent person, were working in a trench exposed to unsupported utilities, unprotected sides and edges, water accumulation as well as an unsafe egress point.  These conditions were exposing employees to struck-by, crushed-by, electrocution and other hazards.

Issued

May 4, 2022

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,786 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1):  Where portable ladders were used for access to an upper landing surface and the ladder's length allows, the ladder side rails did not extend at least 3 feet (.9 m) above the upper landing surface being accessed:  (a)H & W Contracting, L.L.C. at 271st Street and Kerslake Place, Tea, SD 57064:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2021, the employer did not ensure the side rails of the fly section of the extension ladder extended at least three feet above the top of the excavation.  Employees utilized the fly section of an extension ladder  to egress a trench excavation that was greater than seven feet deep. The side rails of the ladder extended approximately 17 inches past the top soil level working surface.  This condition exposed employees to fall hazards associated with inadequate ladder access.

Issued

May 4, 2022

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $95,718 · Current $95,718

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)H & W Contracting, L.L.C. at 271st Street and Kerslake Place, Tea, SD 57064:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2021, the employer did not ensure that four employees were protected from cave-in hazards by an adequate protective system while working within and exiting from a trench excavation that contained sections of vertical wall and measured up to 13 feet in depth in some areas.  This condition exposed employees to cave-in and struck-by hazards associated with trench wall collapse.