OSHA Inspection: A4S LLC

Issued

May 13, 2022

Abate by

Jan 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.651(c)(2):  A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of egress is not located in trench excavations that are 4 feet (1.22m) or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet (7.62m) of lateral travel for employees:  (a)	A4S LLC dba A4S Construction:  The employer is failing to ensure that workers assigned to work in trenches are provided a safe means of egress at least every 25 feet while working in trenches greater than 4 feet deep.  This violation occurred on November 16, 2021 at 0084 Berlin Placer Road in Breckenridge CO 80424 when employees working in a trench were exposed to cave-in hazards when the exit ladder was approximately 90 lateral feet from the work being performed.  To abate this hazard the employer must ensure that safe egress is available within 25 lateral feet of travel of work operations being conducted in the trench.

Issued

May 13, 2022

Abate by

Jan 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $145,027 · Current $30,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2):  The employer does not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury:  (a)	A4S LLC dba A4S Construction:  The employer is failing to ensure that workers assigned to work in trenches are trained to recognize the hazards of trenches and the methods to control the hazards.  This violation occurred on November 16, 2021, at 0084 Berlin Placer Road in Breckenridge CO 80424, when employees working in the trenches were exposed to hazardous conditions and were not trained on the hazards of trenches and the methods to use to ensure that trenches are safe while conducting work inside them. Between August and December 2021, the employer routinely assigned inexperienced and untrained workers to work in trenches despite their inability to recognize and avoid unsafe trench conditions.  To abate this violation the employer must ensure that the workers assigned to work in trenches are trained on the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to trench safety.

Issued

May 13, 2022

Abate by

Jan 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $145,027 · Current $30,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(k)(1):  Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems are not being made by a competent person for evidence of a situation that could result in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions when employee exposure is reasonably anticipated.  An inspection is not conducted by the competent person prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift. Inspections are also not made after every rainstorm or other hazard-increasing occurrence:   (a)	A4S LLC dba A4S Construction:  The employer is failing to ensure that a competent person is conducting inspections of trenches for evidence of hazardous conditions prior to workers entering to work inside the trenches.  This violation occurred on November 16, 2021, at 0084 Berlin Placer Road in Breckenridge, CO 80424 when workers were directed to enter a trench that was greater than 5 feet deep prior to an inspection conducted by a competent person. The trench caved in burying three workers and killing one of them. This violation occurred again on December 20, 2021, at the same construction project when workers were directed into a trench that had not been inspected by a competent person. Photographs of the trench show a trench greater than 5 feet deep with an undercut portion of dirt at the top of the wall and workers outside of protective systems working below, exposing them to a potential trench collapse. Between August and December 2021, the employer routinely assigned workers to work inside trenches that had not been inspected by a competent person.  To abate this violation the employer must ensure that trenches are inspected by a competent person prior to employees entering the trenches at the start of work each day and after every rainstorm or other hazard-increasing occurrence.

Issued

May 13, 2022

Abate by

Jan 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $145,027 · Current $30,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(a)(1):  Each employee in an excavation is not being protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.652 (b) or (c):  (a) A4S LLC dba A4S Construction:  The employer is failing to protect each employee performing work in trenches by properly sloping the trenches or by using appropriate protective systems designed in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c) of 29 CFR 1926.652.  This violation was committed on November 16, 2021, at 0084 Berlin Placer Road in Breckenridge CO 80424 when employees were installing sewer lines in a vertical cut excavation that was greater than 5 feet deep in type B and C soil, without a protective system.  The trench caved in burying three workers and fatally injuring one.  This violation was observed again on December 20, 2021, at the same construction project, when workers in a trench deeper than 5 feet were photographed working below an undercut portion of the trench and outside of a trench box. Between August and December 2021, the employer routinely assigned workers to work inside trenches that were not protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system.  To abate this violation the employer must ensure that the trenches are properly sloped, or that protective systems designed in accordance with this standard are used, and that no employees enter trenches until this protection is provided.