OSHA Inspection: PRO UNDERGROUND, LLC

Issued

Feb 24, 2023

Abate by

Mar 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,018 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(b)(4): While the excavation is open, underground installations were not protected, supported or removed as necessary to safeguard employees:  (a)Pro Underground, LLC  at Mindy Street and Linda Avenue, Tea, SD, 57064: On or about and at times prior to October 26, 2022, the employer did not ensure that underground utilities were protected or supported, in that a gas line was unsupported and sustained previous damage within the east excavation.  This condition exposed employees to hazards associated with damaged underground utilities.

Issued

Feb 24, 2023

Abate by

Mar 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,018 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.651(j)(1): Adequate protection was not provided to protect employees from loose rock or soil that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling from an excavation face:  (a)Pro Underground, LLC  at Mindy Street and Linda Avenue, Tea, SD, 57064: On or about and at times prior to September 12, 2022, the employer did not ensure that the protective system installed in the excavation was at least 18 inches above the excavation face.  This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards associated with loose falling rock or soil.

Issued

Feb 24, 2023

Abate by

Mar 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(e)(1)(i): Members of support systems were not securely connected together to prevent sliding, falling, kickouts, or other predictable failure:  (a)Pro Underground, LLC at Monty Avenue and Linda Street, Tea, SD 57064: On or about and at times prior to October 22, 2022, the employer did not ensure that the protective system installed in the east excavation was installed securely to prevent sliding, falling, kickouts, or predictable failures, in that an upper spreader bar pin was not installed.  This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards associated with support system failure.  (b)Pro Underground, LLC at Monty Avenue and Linda Street, Tea, SD 57064: On or about and at times prior to October 22, 2022, the employer did not ensure that the protective system installed in the west excavation was installed securely to prevent sliding, falling, kickouts, or predictable failures, in that an upper spreader bar pin was not installed.  This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards associated with support system failure.

Issued

Feb 24, 2023

Abate by

Mar 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(g)(2): Excavation of material to a level no greater than 2 feet (.61m) below the bottom of a shield system was permitted when there were indications of a possible loss of soil from behind or below the bottom of the shield:  (a)Pro Underground, LLC  at Mindy Street and Linda Avenue, Tea, SD, 57064: On or about and at times prior to September 12, 2022, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from cave-in hazards in that the trench shield system being used in the excavation was positioned where there was greater than two feet of material open below the bottom of the shield system.  This condition exposed employees to cave-in and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Feb 24, 2023

Abate by

Mar 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(c)(2)(iii): Manufacturer's specifications, recommendations, and limitations, and manufacturer's approval to deviate from the specifications, recommendations, and limitations were not in written form at the jobsite during construction of the protective system and thereafter until the protective system was no longer utilized:  (a)Pro Underground, LLC  at Mindy Street and Linda Avenue, Tea, SD, 57064: On or about and at times prior to September 12, 2022, the employer did not ensure manufacturer's tabulated data for the east trench shield system installed were on site during the installation of the system.  This condition exposed employees to cave-in and struck-by hazards associated with improper installation of the shield system.  (b)Pro Underground, LLC  at Mindy Street and Linda Avenue, Tea, SD, 57064: On or about and at times prior to September 12, 2022, the employer did not ensure manufacturer's tabulated data for the west trench shield system installed were on site during the installation of the system.  This condition exposed employees to cave-in and struck-by hazards associated with improper installation of the shield system.

Issued

Feb 24, 2023

Abate by

Mar 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,688 · Current $4,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(a)(1): Each employee in an excavation was not protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with 29 CFR  1926.652 (b) or (c):  (a)Pro Underground, LLC  at Mindy Street and Linda Avenue, Tea, SD, 57064: On or about and at times prior to September 12, 2022, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from cave-in hazards. Employees entered an excavation greater than five feet in depth with no protective system in place. This condition exposed employees to struck-by and cave-in hazards associated with trench wall collapse.  (b)Pro Underground, LLC  at Monty Street and Linda Avenue, Tea, SD, 57064: On or about and at times prior to October 27, 2022, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from cave-in hazards. Employees entered an excavation greater than five feet in depth that was not adequately protected from cave-ins. This condition exposed employees to struck-by and cave-in hazards associated with trench wall collapse.

Issued

Feb 24, 2023

Abate by

Mar 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(k)(1): Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems were not made by a competent person for evidence of a situation that could result in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions:  (a)Pro Underground, LLC, Monty Street and Linda Avenue, Tea, SD, 57064.  On or about and prior to October 26, 2022, the employer did not ensure a competent person inspected the excavation prior to start of work and during each shift, in that the competent person did not identify soil conditions and did not ensure the protective system was installed according to manufacturer's specifications prior to an employees entering the excavation. This condition exposed the employees to struck-by and crushed-by hazards while working within the excavation.