OSHA Inspection: UNIT CONSTRUCTORS INC.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $2,678 · Current $182 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2): The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe condition(s) and the regulation(s) applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazard(s) or other exposure to illness or injury:  On or about April 19, 2023, and at times prior thereto, employees were exposed to hazardous conditions where they have not been trained to recognize or avoid hazards such as, but not limited to electrical shock, and being struck by powered industrial truck loads and flying materials.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 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 on a scaffold be 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.  On or about April 19, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that each employee involved in erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining, or inspecting a scaffold was trained by a competent person to recognize hazards, exposing employees to fall hazards.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.503(a)(1): The employer did not provide a training program for each employee who was exposed to fall hazards that enabled each employee to recognize the hazards of falling and train each employee in the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards.  On or about April 19, 2023, thirteen employees were working from heights greater than six feet on a new home under construction without receiving fall protection training, exposing employees to fall hazards.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 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:  On or about April 19, 2023, employees were using ladders to access elevated working levels of the home under construction without receiving training from the employer, exposing employees to fall hazards.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $2,678 · Current $182 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.102(a)(1): Employees did not use eye and face protection equipment when machines or operations presented potential eye or face injury from physical, chemical, or radiation agents.  On or about April 19, 2023, employees were operating hand tools to cut and grind without wearing eye protection, exposing employees to the hazard of being struck-by flying particles.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $2,678 · Current $182 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.152(a)(1): Containers other than approved metal safety cans were used for the handling and use of flammable liquids in quantities greater than one gallon:  On or about April 19, 2023, and times prior thereto three plastic five-gallon containers of fuel were being stored in the work area, exposing employees to hazards such as, but not limited to fires.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,572 · Current $182 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.304(i)(1): Each circular hand-fed rip saw was not guarded by a hood that completely enclosed that portion of the saw above the table and that portion of the saw above the material being cut:  On or about April 19, 2023, an employee was using a table saw with the factory safety guards removed, exposing the employee to hazards such as, but not limited to cuts and amputations.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,572 · Current $182 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.403(b)(2):29 CFR 1926.403(b)(2): Listed, labeled, or certified equipment was not installed and used in accordance with instructions included in the listing, labeling, or certification:  On or about April 19, 2023, and at times prior thereto, 120V electrical extension cords and relocatable power strips were not being used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, exposing employees to an electrical shock hazard.  a) 120V extension cords were connected in series (daisy chain).   b) 120V relocatable power strips (RPTs) were zip-tied to surfaces for use.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.405(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords were not used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap:  On or about April 19, 2023, and at times prior thereto, two 120V electrical cords that were spliced together were being used by employees for power, exposing the employees to an electrical shock hazard.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.405(g)(2)(iv): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief is provided which will prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  On or about April 19, 2023, and at times prior thereto, six Romex jobs-site made flexible cords were being used for powering equipment and handheld tools that were not connected to devices and fittings which would provide strain relief, exposing employees to an electrical shock hazard.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.416(e)(1): Worn or frayed electric cords or cables were used:  On or about April 19, 2023, and at times prior thereto, frayed, torn, and cut 120V electrical cords were being used by nine employees on the jobsite to power various equipment and handheld power tools, exposing employees to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $182 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.405(b)(2): All pull boxes, junction boxes, or fittings were not provided with covers and in energized installations each outlet box did not have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy:  On or about April 19, 2023, employees were working around a 220V breaker panel and 120V junction boxes that had uncovered and energized parts, exposing employees to an electrical shock hazard.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,465 · Current $182 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.451(a)(6): Scaffolds were not designed by a qualified person and were not constructed and loaded in accordance with that design:  On or about April 19, 2023, and at times prior thereto, employees were working from jobsite-built scaffolding that was not designed by a qualified person, exposing employees to hazards such as but, not limited to falls and struck-by.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.451(g)(1)(vii): For all scaffolds not otherwise specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (g)(1)(vi) of this section, each employee was not protected by the use of personal fall arrest systems or guardrail systems meeting the requirements of paragraph (g)(4) of this section.  On or about April 19, 2023, an employee was working from tubular welded scaffolding up to approximately 15.5 feet from the ground without guard railing, exposing the employee to a fall hazard.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,572 · Current $182 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13): Each employee 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.  On or about April 19, 2023, an employee was working from a roof over six feet high from the ground without the use of fall protection, exposing the employee to a fall hazard.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,465 · Current $182 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.602(c)(1)(ii): Modifications or additions which affect the capacity or safe operation of the equipment were made without the manufacturer's written approval:  On or about April 19, 2023, a job-made wooden box was being utilized as an attachment to lift materials and employees to the roof and the second story balcony of a new home construction build without approval from the manufacturer of the forklift, exposing employees to a struck-by hazard.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,465 · Current $182 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.602(d): The employer did not ensure that each employee operating a powered industrial vehicle had been trained and evaluated as required by paragraph 29 CFR 1910.178(l): Note: The requirements applicable to construction work under paragraph (d) of this section are identical to those set forth at paragraph (l) of 29 CFR 1910.178. and as referenced by the note contained in 1926.602(d).  On or about April 19, 2023, one employee was observed operating a powered industrial vehicle without receiving training or an evaluation from the employer, exposing employees to a struck-by hazard.

Issued

Aug 2, 2023

Abate by

Aug 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,572 · Current $182 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(4): Ladders were not used for the purpose for which they were designed.  On or about April 19, 2023, two employees were using portable, free-standing ladders in a manner in which they were not designed for use, exposing employees to fall hazards.  a) An employee was using a portable, free-standing ladder folded up and leaning against a post to gain height to an upper landing surface.  b) An employee was using two portable, free-standing ladders to support a scaffold platform.