OSHA Inspection: RIDGE RUNNER CONSTRUCTION, LLC

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Abate by

Mar 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,911 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.20(b)(2): The employer did not initiate and maintain programs which provided for frequent and regular inspections of the job site, materials and equipment to be made by a competent person(s).  Jobsite - On or about September 3, 2022, the employer did not perform frequent and regular site inspections by a competent person where employees were exposed to falls, eye injuries and ladder/scaffold hazards.

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,911 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.152(a)(1): Containers other than approved metal safety cans or DOT approved containers were used for the handling and use of flammable liquids in quantities of 5 gallons or less.  Jobsite - On or about September 3, 2022, a standard plastic 5-gallon gasoline container was used in place of an approved safety can or DOT approved container to dispense gasoline onsite. Employees used the unapproved container to fuel the air compressor being used at the site.

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Abate by

Mar 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,911 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.503(a)(1): The employer did not provide a training program for each employee potentially exposed to fall hazards to enable each employee to recognize the hazards of falling and the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards.  Jobsite - On or about September 3, 2022, the employer did not provide effective training to each employee exposed to fall hazards that enabled them to recognize the hazards of falling or the procedures to be followed to minimize those hazards. Employees exposed to falls of between approximately 10 and 20 feet were not utilizing fall protection and were installing lifelines by nailing through the rope and into the ridge beam in lieu of installing anchors.

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Abate by

Mar 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.454(a): The employer did not have each employee who performed work while on a scaffold trained by a person qualified in the subject matter to recognize the hazards associated with the type of scaffold being used and to understand the procedures to control or minimize those hazards.  Jobsite - On or about September 3, 2022, the employer did not have each person trained to recognize the hazards of working from a ladder jack scaffold without fall protection or an access ladder. Employees were exposed to a fall of over 13 feet where they were utilizing the scaffold with no fall protection and climbing over the platform onto the support ladder with no access ladder installed.

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Abate by

Mar 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1060(a):The employer did not provide a training program for each employee using ladders and stairways, as necessary, which would enable each employee to recognize hazards related to ladders and stairways and train each employee in the procedures to be followed to minimize these hazards.  Jobsite - On or about September 3, 2022, the employer did not provide training to each employee using ladders where employees were exposed to a fall of approximately 20 feet using an access ladder that was not extended at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface.

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Penalty

Initial $13,750 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.102(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee used appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles.  The employer fails to ensure effective protections against eye hazards as required by the standard, as demonstrated on September 3, 2022, when employees were using pneumatic nail guns at a jobsite located at 221 Lawrence Rd. in Salem, NH without eye protection and were exposed to eye hazards from flying particles and debris.  Jobsite - On or about September 3, 2022, employees using pneumatic nail guns to install roofing materials were not protected from eye injury where eye protection was not utilized.  To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that all employees use eye protection when exposed to eye hazards, such as when using pneumatic nail guns.  Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, including an explanation of how these steps protect employees from eye hazards.  Ridge Runner Construction, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1230187, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on June 8, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 131 Lynnfield St. in Peabody, MA.

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Penalty

Initial $13,750 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.451(e)(1): When scaffold platforms were more than 2 feet (0.6 m) above or below a point of access, portable ladders, hook-on ladders, attachable ladders, stair towers (scaffold stairways/towers), stairway-type ladders (such as ladder stands), ramps, walkways, integral prefabricated scaffold access, or direct access from other scaffold, structure, personnel hoist, or similar surface was not used.    The employer fails to ensure effective protections against falls as required by the standard, as demonstrated on September 3, 2022, when employees were utilizing a ladder jack scaffold at a jobsite located at 221 Lawrence Rd. in Salem, NH without an access ladder and exposed to a fall of over 13 feet when they climbed over the platform onto the support ladder for egress.  Jobsite - On or about September 3, 2022, employees were exposed to a fall of over 13 feet where access to the ladder jack scaffold was not provided and employees were climbing over the platform to use the support ladder for egress from the scaffold.  To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that all employees utilizing scaffolds have sufficient means of access to the scaffold as described in 29 CFR 1926.451(e)(1).  Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, including an explanation of how these steps protect employees from fall hazards when using scaffolds.  Ridge Runner Construction, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1230187, citation number 1, item number 3a and was affirmed as a final order on June 8, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 131 Lynnfield St. in Peabody, MA.

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Penalty

Initial $13,750 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.451(g)(1)(i): Each employee on a boatswains' chair, catenary scaffold, float scaffold, needle beam scaffold, or ladder jack scaffold was not protected by a personal fall arrest system.  The employer fails to ensure effective protections against falls as required by the standard, as demonstrated on September 3, 2022, when employees were utilizing a ladder jack scaffold at a jobsite located at 221 Lawrence Rd. in Salem, NH without fall protections and were exposed to a fall of over 13 feet.  Jobsite - On or about September 3, 2022, employees using the ladder jack scaffold onsite were not protected from a fall of over 13 feet where personal fall arrest systems were not utilized.  To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that all employees use complete personal fall arrest systems when an employee works 10 feet or more above a lower level from a ladder jack scaffold.  Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, including an explanation of how these steps protect employees from fall hazards on scaffolds.  Ridge Runner Construction, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1230187, citation number 1, item number 3b and was affirmed as a final order on June 8, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 131 Lynnfield St. in Peabody, MA.

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Penalty

Initial $13,750 · Current $3,000 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.  The employer fails to ensure effective protections against falls as required by the standard, as demonstrated on September 3, 2022, when employees were utilizing a ladder at a jobsite located at 221 Lawrence Rd. in Salem, NH that was not extended at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface and exposed to a fall of of approximately 20 feet.  Jobsite - On or about September 3, 2022, the aluminum extension ladder being used by employees for access to the roof was not extended at least 3 feet above the landing surface, exposing the employees to a fall of approximately 20 feet to the ground below.  To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that all ladders used by employees for access to an upper level are extended at least 3 feet above that upper level.  Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, including an explanation of how these steps protect employees from fall hazards when using ladders.  Ridge Runner Construction, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1230187, citation number 1, item number 4 and was affirmed as a final order on June 8, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 131 Lynnfield St. in Peabody, MA.

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Penalty

Initial $68,754 · Current $14,850 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.501(b)(13):Each employee(s) engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels were not protected by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system, nor were employee(s) provided with an alternative fall protection measure under another provision of paragraph 1926.501 (b).  The employer fails to ensure effective protections against falls as required by the standard, as demonstrated on September 3, 2022, when employees were performing roofing activities at a jobsite located at 221 Lawrence Rd. in Salem, NH without fall protections and were exposed to falls of between approximately 10 feet and 20 feet.  Jobsite - On or about September 3, 2022, employees installing roofing shingles on a two story home were not protected from falls of between approximately 10 feet and  20 feet where fall protection was not utilized.  To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that all employees use complete personal fall arrest, guardrail, or safety net systems when an employee performs construction work 6 feet or more above a lower level.  Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, including an explanation of how these steps protect employees from fall hazards.  Ridge Runner Construction, LLC was previously cited for a repeat violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(11), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1501441, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on October 4, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 105 Haverhill St. in North Reading, MA.  Ridge Runner Construction, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1230187, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on June 8, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 131 Lynnfield St. in Peabody, MA.