OSHA Inspection: GREAT OUTDOOR COTTAGES, LLC

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,055 · Current $41,288

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(a)(3): Exit route(s) were not kept free and unobstructed:  a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, employees were required to work inside the production area of the building where several exits were either obstructed or blocked preventing them from exiting in the event of an emergency.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Abate by

Oct 10, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.38(b): An emergency action plan was not in writing, kept in the workplace, and available to employees for review:  a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, employees were required to work inside the production facility without having the required elements of an emergency action plan. In the event of an emergency evacuation this would create confusion and the lack of an ability to get an accurate head count to ensure all personnel are accounted for.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,055 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, employees were required to work inside the production facility where the eye wash stations installed inside were blocked preventing employees access to them in the event of an emergency.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,036 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(2)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training consisting of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace:  a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, employees were required to work in and around forklifts being used to move material without the operators receiving the required training. The company does not have a program nor use outside contractors to ensure their employees are trained on the hazards associated with the use of powered industrial trucks.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,246 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(d)(1): The employer did not assess the exposure of each employee who was or may reasonably be expected to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level in accordance with either the performance option in paragraph (d)(2) or the scheduled monitoring option in paragraph (d)(3) of this section:  a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, employees were required to work inside the facility with substances that consisted of respirable crystalline silica. The sand used to mix with the joint compound consists of respirable crystalline silica and is used in the installation of the walls inside of the cottages being built at the site. Significant amounts of dust fill the facility exposing all of the employees to the hazards associated with respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(e)(2)(i):The employer did not demarcate regulated areas from the rest of the workplace in a manner that minimized the number of employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica within the regulated area:  a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, employees were required to work inside the facility that was open without any type of walls/partitions to limit the exposure of substances that consisted of respirable crystalline silica. There was no specific set aside for the employees to mix, install, and/or smooth the surface. This allowed for the respirable crystalline silica dust to flow into all areas of the facility.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,055 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):  The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), & (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes items (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph:  a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, the employer did not provide or maintain a hazardous communication program to include labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training as required.  ABATEMENT NOTE:  A written program shall include description of how the criteria for the following will be met:  1.  Labeling and other forms of warning; 2.  Material Safety Data Sheets; 3.  Employee information and training  Additionally, a list of hazardous chemicals known to be preset in the workplace must be compiled.  Methods used to inform employees of the hazards associated with non-routine tasks and the informing of contractors of workplace hazards, including a description of the labeling system used in the facility and of the availability of material safety data sheets, must also be addressed.  The written program must be made available upon request.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i): The employer did not compile a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using a product identifier that was referenced on the appropriate safety data sheet.  a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, the employer did not develop nor maintain a chemical inventory list identifying the hazardous chemicals being used by their employees.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, the employer did not provide training on hazardous chemicals to be used on the site nor did the employer provide SDS sheets for the employees to reference in case their was an exposure.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(1): The employer did not include respirable crystalline silica in the program established to comply with the hazard communication standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200):    a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, the employer did not provide a hazard communication program that included respirable crystalline silica (including SDS information and list of hazardous substances, and training associated) for the employees at the facility.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,046 · Current $0 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)   a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, CSHO observed an employee performing roofing/decking installation work on a roof of a new single family cottage that was still being constructed. The employee was working at a height of approximately 11 feet above the ground level without any means of fall protection.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,036 · Current $0 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:    a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, employee was exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 11 feet above the lower level while performing a deck build on a newly constructed single family cottage without fall protection training.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 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 train each employee in the procedures to be followed to minimize hazards related to ladders and stairways:  a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, the employer failed to provide training to employees working on or with various types of ladders to access elevated surfaces.

Issued

Sep 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,046 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1): When portable ladders were used for access to an upper landing surface, the ladder side rails did not extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface to which the ladder was used to gain access:   a) 21498 Baltimore Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947: On or about March 22, 2023, employee(s) used a ladder that did not extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing to access the upper levels of a newly built single family cottage to install a deck, exposing them to fall hazards approximately 11 feet above the ground.