OSHA Inspection: RIDGE RUNNER CONSTRUCTION, LLC

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Abate by

Mar 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,875 · Current $2,143 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 14, 2022, the employer did not perform frequent and regular site inspections by a competent person where employees were exposed to falls and ladder hazards.

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.200(h)(1): Accident prevention tags were not used as a temporary means of warning employees of an existing hazard.  Jobsite - On or about September 14, 2022, a damaged and defective lifeline for a personal fall arrest system was installed on the roof and available for employee use, where it should have been tagged to warn employees of the hazard and removed from service.

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Abate by

Mar 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.452(m)(1): Crawling boards did not extend from the roof peak to the eaves when used in connection with roof construction, repair, or maintenance:  Jobsite - On or about September 14, 2022, an employee performing roofing work used a crawling board on the roof that did not extend from the roof peak to the eave. The approximately 8-foot section was in the middle of the roof deck where it was approximately 2 feet short of the peak and approximately 6 feet short of the eave .

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Abate by

Mar 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.452(m)(2): Crawling boards were not secured to the roof by ridge hooks or by means that met equivalent criteria (e.g., strength and durability).  Jobsite - On or about September 14, 2022, an employee used a crawling board on the roof that was not secured to the roof by ridge hooks or other adequate means. The approximately 8-foot section was secured at the base by a bundle of shingles at the ridge of a dormer and had no ridge hooks on it.

Issued

Feb 21, 2023

Abate by

Mar 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,875 · Current $2,143 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 14, 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 9 and 20 feet were not utilizing fall protection and also 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  1926.1060(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 14, 2022, the employer did not provide training to each employee using ladders where employees were exposed to falls of between approximately 9 and 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 $4,285 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 routinely fails to ensure effective protections against falls as required by the standard, as demonstrated on September 14, 2022, when employees were utilizing a ladder at a jobsite located at 31 Captain Bannon Circle in Merrimack, NH that was not extended at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface and exposed to falls of between approximately 9 and 20 feet.  a.  Jobsite - On or about September 14, 2022, the aluminum extension ladder being used by employees for access to the roof at the front of the house was not extended at least 3 feet above the landing surface, exposing the employees to a fall of approximately 9 feet to the porch roof and approximately 20 feet to the ground below.  b.  Jobsite - On or about September 14, 2022, the aluminum extension ladder set up on the front of the garage did not extend at least 3 feet above the landing surface where it was resting on the facia board.  c.   Jobsite - On or about September 14, 2022, the aluminum extension ladder set up on the back of the garage did not extend at least 3 feet above the landing surface where it was resting on the facia board.  d.  Jobsite - On or about September 14, 2022, the aluminum extension ladder set up on the left side of the house on the gable did not extend at least 3 feet above the landing surface.  The employer routinely fails to ensure effective protections against falls as required by the standard, as demonstrated on September 14, 2022, when employees were utilizing a ladder at a jobsite located at 31 Captain Bannon Circle in Merrimack, NH that was not extended at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface and exposed to falls of between approximately 9 and 20 feet.  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 $21,429 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 14, 2022, when employees were performing roofing activities at a jobsite located at 31 Captain Bannon Circle in Merrimack, NH without fall protections and were exposed to falls of between approximately 9 feet and 20 feet.  Jobsite - On or about September 14, 2022, employees unloading bundles of shingles on the roof of a two story home were not protected from falls of approximately 9 feet to the porch roof and 20 feet to the ground 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  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.