OSHA Inspection: UNDERGROUND UTILITIES INC.

Issued

Jan 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $8,159 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.251(a)(1): Rigging equipment for material handling shall be inspected prior to use on each shift and as necessary during its use to ensure that it is safe. Defective rigging equipment shall be removed from service.  a. On or about July 26, 2022, at the jobsite located at 917 Whitethorne Ave., Columbus, OH 43223, Underground Utilities Inc., did not ensure employees were protected from struck by hazards due to unsafe rigging equipment in use. Safety latches were missing from the two hooks on the nylon sling used to hoist the trench box used to install the hydrant branches.

Issued

Jan 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,116 · Current $5,129 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(d)(3):When material or equipment that is used for protective systems is damaged, a competent person shall examine the material or equipment and evaluate its suitability for continued use. If the competent person cannot assure the material or equipment is able to support the intended loads or is otherwise suitable for safe use, then such material or equipment shall be removed from service, and shall be evaluated and approved by a registered professional engineer before being returned to service.  a. On or about July 26, 2022, at the jobsite located at 917 Whitethorne Ave., Columbus, OH 43223, Underground Utilities Inc., did not ensure that the trench box used along the main line trench was removed from service when damaged spreader bars were identified, thereby exposing employees to cave in hazards.

Issued

Jan 13, 2023

Abate by

Jan 26, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $8,159 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(g)(1)(iii): Employees shall be protected from the hazard of cave-ins when entering or exiting the areas protected by shields.  a. On or about July 26, 2022, at the jobsite located at 917 Whitethorne Ave., Columbus, OH 43223, Underground Utilities Inc., did not ensure a safe means of egress, such as a ladder, was placed in the approximate 7.5 feet and deeper trench in which an employee was working. One employee was exposed to cave-in hazards and injury, which can occur from trench cave ins, and the inability to exit the trench quickly in case of an emergency.

Issued

Jan 13, 2023

Abate by

Jan 26, 2023

Penalty

Initial $18,231 · Current $10,257 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(g)(2):Additional requirement for shield systems used in trench excavations. Excavations of earth material to a level not greater than 2 feet (.61 m) below the bottom of a shield shall be permitted, but only if the shield is designed to resist the forces calculated for the full depth of the trench, and there are no indications while the trench is open of a possible loss of soil from behind or below the bottom of the shield.  a. On or about July 26, 2022, at the jobsite located at 917 Whitethorne Ave., Columbus, OH 43223, Underground Utilities Inc., failed to ensure the bottom of the installed protective trench shield was within 2 ft from the bottom of the excavation. Employees performing water main and hydrant branch connections in an approximately 7.5 ft deep trench were exposed to cave-in hazards associated with soil entering the trench from behind or below the trench shields while the bottom of the protective trench shield was positioned 3 ft above the bottom of the excavation.    Underground Utilities Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1926.652(g)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1392508, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on May 14, 2019, with respect to a workplace located at 1895 Cooper Forest, Amherst, OH 44001.

Issued

Jan 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,396 · Current $6,411 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.39(a)(1):Basic Requirement.  Within eight (8) hours after the death of any employee as a result of a work-related incident, you must report the fatality to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor.  a. On or about July 26, 2022, at the jobsite located at 917 Whitethorne Ave., Columbus, OH 43223, Underground Utilities Inc., failed to report a fatality to OSHA within eight hours after being notified of an employee work related death.