OSHA Inspection: THE SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE COMPANY

Issued

2022-10-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-12-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14502.00 · Current $8500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.268(c):  The employer did not provide training in the various precautions and safe practices described in (1) through (3) of this section and did not ensure that employees did not engage in the activities to which this section applies until such employees have received proper training in the various precautions and safe practices required in this section:  Jobsite located at 85 Gabb Road, Bloomfield, Connecticut:  On, or about, June 22, 2022, members of a pole setting crew had not received adequate training regarding the potential hazards present while setting a pole in wet conditions, specifically,  1.  Employees were not trained to determine the voltage level of the energized conductors to be able to determine the minimum approach distances;  2.  Employees were not trained regarding hazards associated with working in wet weather conditions, such as limitation of using derricks;  3.  Employees were not trained regarding the use of "tip guards" or other effective insulation on poles; and   4.  One of the crew members had not completed the basic training to be an Outside Plant Technician (OPT) due to the cancellation of the field portion of the training class as a result of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Issued

2022-10-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-12-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14502.00 · Current $8500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.268(n)(11)(iii)(A):  In joint lines where the power voltage is greater than 750 volts but less than 34.5kV phase to phase (20 kV to ground), wet poles being placed, moved or removed were not insulated with either a rubber insulating blanket, a fiberglass box guide, or equivalent protective equipment:  Jobsite located at 85 Gabb Road, Bloomfield, Connecticut:  On, or about, June 22, 2022, a pole setting crew was dispatched to perform a routine pole replacement in wet weather.  An insulating blanket or other effective protective equipment was not provided on the wet pole during the pole setting operations near primary electrical transmission wires resulting in one of the crew members on the ground receiving an electric shock and burns.  Abatement Note:  Per 29 CFR 1910.268(n)(11)(iii)(B), insulating material would have also been required at the voltage level of this pole setting project if the pole had been dry.