OSHA Inspection: UTILITY CONTRACTORS, INC.

Issued

Aug 31, 2022

Abate by

Sep 27, 2022

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $10,151 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:  On or about March 10, 2022, at the job site located at 5211 W. 21st St, Wichita, KS, the employer exposed employees to the recognized struck by hazard created when a hoist designed by the manufacturer to be used to lift loads vertically is misused and overloaded by (i) using the hoist to move a load in a horizontal direction-this is called sideloading-and (ii) allowing two employees to pull on the hand chains at the same time.  During the installation of ductile iron pipe at a water treatment facility under construction, the employer, contrary to the hoist manufactures' instructions, used two manual vertical lift hoists in an attempt to apply horizontal force to insert a ductile iron pipe measuring four feet in diameter and six feet in length into an iron wall sleeve embedded in a concrete effluent box. The employer had successfully accomplished this task on two similar effluent boxes using an excavator and four feet by four feet piece of lumber to apply force to the pipe to seat it in the sleeve. This technique was approved by the pipes' manufacturer; however, it did not work on a third effluent box.  After failing to seat the pipe on March 9, the employer had employees try to seat the pipe again on March 10 using a technique it improvised.  The improvised technique used two manual chain hoists designed to lift loads vertically, a two-ton Coffing hoist and a two-ton CM series 622 hoist, to pull the pipes together horizontally.  Also, contrary to the hoist manufacturer's instructions, the employer had two employees pulling on the hand chain of each hoist at the same time.  This improvised technique was also contrary to the pipe manufacturer's instruction manual, which referenced special assembly tools and rigging where assembly of pipes by manpower is desired. The special tools consist of a heavy-duty roller chain hoist, a steel pipe-end hook and snatch block, and wire rope chain tackle to attach the rigging together to effect "double line" from the top of the pipe.  The employer did not use the pipe manufacturer's special tools or follow the pipe manufacturer's instructions.  As the employees pulled on the hand chains of the vertical hoists, one of links in the chain on the two-ton Coffing UN 007 hoist broke.  The sudden release of tension caused the spreader beam to which the hoists were connected to swing, striking an employee in the head and chest and killing him.    Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means of abatement are:   1.	Follow the instructions, warnings, and cautions provided by the manufacturers of the vertical hoists requiring a.	That the hoists be used for the purpose for which they were designed, lifting loads vertically-side loading or horizontal use is prohibited; and  b.	That the hoists not be overloaded, including by allowing two employees to pull on hand chains at the same time-each manufacturer specifically warns, the operator shall "NOT permit more than one operator to pull on lever at the same time. More than one operator is likely to cause hoist to overload"; or  2.	Follow the requirements set forth in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B30.16- 2022 and the American Pipe Manual- Twentieth Edition 2016 and each manual chain hoists owner/operators manual including that manual chain hoists be operated with no more than one operator per hand chain, that vertical hoists not be used to sideload, and that hoists not be used in such a way as to exceed their rated load; or  3.	Follow the instructions and techniques and use the special tools provided by the pipes' manufacture for using manpower to assemble pipes, including the instructions provided in the American Pipe Manual, Twentieth Edition, 2016, at page 2-12, which provides: "in cases where assembly of pipes by manpower is desired, American can provide special assembly tools and rigging which can be used for assembling most pipes of all sizes. The special tools consist of a heavy-duty roller chain hoist, a steel pipe-end hook and snatch block, and wire rope chain tackle to attach the rigging together to effect "double line" from the top of the pipe. The snatch block pulley and twin line rigging approximately doubles the assembly force from the strong come-along, making possible the assembly of up to 64" pipe joints from the top of the pipe;" or   4.	When difficulty in pipe assembly occurs, work should be stopped until the pipe manufacture has been contacted for guidance and detailed instructions.

Issued

Aug 31, 2022

Abate by

Sep 27, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,215 · Current $3,729 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.251(a)(2)(iii): The employer did not ensure that rigging equipment not be used without affixed, legible identification markings required by paragraph  (a)(2)(I) of this section:  At the jobsite located at 5211 W. 21st St, Wichita, KS: Employees were exposed to struck-by hazards. Employees engaged in operations while utilizing rigging equipment were exposed to struck-by hazards in that employees were permitted to use UCI Lifting Beam No. 9 without affixed, legible identifications markings indicating the safe working load.