OSHA Inspection: STEVENS ENGINEERS & CONSTRUCTORS, INC

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.20(b)(2):  Such programs shall provide for frequent and regular inspections of the job sites, materials, and equipment to be made by competent persons designated by the employers.  a)  On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that frequent and regular inspections of the jobsite were completed by a competent person, exposing employees to various hazards. These included unsupported utility lines; caught-in hazards due to egress of the trench being greater than 25 feet from the working location; struck-by hazards from undermining along the North and South sides under the roadway; and cave-in hazards due to working in the 16-foot deep trench without a trench box or an alternative protection system. Additional hazards included the use of steel road plates vertically to hold back soil without approval from a registered professional engineer, the absence of tabulated data for steel trench boxes on site, failure to ensure trench boxes were rated for the soil depth of the excavation per manufacturer specifications, struck-by hazards from stacked aluminum trench boxes not being pinned together to prevent sliding or kickouts, and struck by hazards due to trench boxes not being backfilled to prevent shifting.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.651(c)(2): Means of egress from trench excavations. A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of egress shall be located in trench excavations that are 4 feet (1.22 m) or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet (7.62 m) of lateral travel for employees.  a) On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that acceptable means of egress was available to employees working in the trench in that employees had to travel a distance greater than 25 feet to access the extension ladder at the west end of the excavation while performing work in the 80 foot long trench, exposing the employees to crush-by and caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.651(k)(1): Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems shall be 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. An inspection shall be conducted by the competent person prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift. Inspections shall also be made after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing occurrence. These inspections are only required when employee exposure can be reasonably anticipated.  a) On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that adequate daily inspections of the excavations were completed prior to initiating work to verify that the protective system was being correctly utilized and maintained throughout the work period. The trench boxes were not level with the grade, were not secured from being displaced, and were being used under unsupported gas lines. The employee had to travel over 25 feet outside the trench box to reach the ladder for exiting the excavation. As a result, employees were exposed to potential cave-in hazards while working in and exiting the approximately 16-foot deep trench.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.651(k)(2): Where the competent person finds evidence of a situation that could result in a possible cave-in, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions, exposed employees shall be removed from the hazardous area until the necessary precautions have been taken to ensure their safety.  a) On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that employees were removed from a hazardous area after identifying conditions with a potential for cave-ins and other hazards. As a result, employees were exposed to multiple hazards, including potential cave-ins, an unsupported exposed gas line, undermined areas, limited means of access/egress (greater than 25 feet away), and working outside of improperly set up trench boxes in the approximately 16-foot deep excavation.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.651(b)(4): While the excavation is open, underground installations shall be protected, supported or removed as necessary to safeguard employees.  a) On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that exposed utilities, such as the existing gas line, were protected or supported, exposing employees to natural gas leaks while performing work in the trench.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.651(i)(3): Sidewalks, pavements and appurtenant structure shall not be undermined unless a support system or another method of protection is provided to protect employees from the possible collapse of such structures.  a) On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that employees were protected from crush-by, caught-in or struck-by hazards while performing excavation work, including but not limited to undermining in the trench along the north and south sides under the road.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(a)(1): Each employee in an excavation shall be protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c) of this section except when:  a) On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that a trench box or an alternative protection system was in place prior to employees working in the 16 foot deep excavation.  As a result, employees were exposed to cave-in hazards while checking grade of the trench.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(g)(1)(iii): Employees shall be protected from the hazard of cave-ins when entering or exiting the areas protected by shields.  a) On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that employees were protected from cave-in hazards when entering or exiting the trench boxes. Specifically, employees were required to travel outside of the trench boxes to access the ladder for egress, exposing them to potential cave-in hazards.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(c)(4)(i): Support systems, shield systems, and other protective systems not utilizing Option 1, Option 2 or Option 3, above, shall be approved by a registered professional engineer.  a) On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that the steel road plates, being used vertically in an attempt to hold back soil, were approved by a registered professional engineer.  As a result, employees working in the 16 foot deep excavation were exposed to cave-in hazards.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(c)(4)(iii): At least one copy of the design shall be maintained at the jobsite during construction of the protective system. After that time, the design may be stored off the jobsite, but a copy of the design shall be made available to the Secretary upon request.  a) On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that the tabulated data for the steel trench boxes was readily available upon request during the installation of the boxes.  As a result, employees were exposed to the risk of incorrect installation and use of the protective systems, potentially leading to cave-ins and other related hazards while working in the 16-foot deep excavation.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(d)(2): Manufactured materials and equipment used for protective systems shall be used and maintained in a manner that is consistent with the recommendations of the manufacturer, and in a manner that will prevent employee exposure to hazards.  a) On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that the trench boxes in place were rated for the soil type and depth of the excavation per manufacturer's specifications.  As a result, employees were exposed to cave-in hazards while working in a 16 foot excavation.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(e)(1)(i): Members of support systems shall be securely connected together to prevent sliding, falling, kickouts, or other predictable failure.  a) On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that the stacked aluminum trench boxes were pinned together, as specified by the tab data from the manufacturer.  As a result, employees were exposed to struck by and cave-in hazards.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(g)(1)(ii): Shields shall be installed in a manner to restrict lateral or other hazardous movement of the shield in the event of the application of sudden lateral loads.  a) On or about April 25, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that the trench boxes were backfilled with soil or otherwise secured to prevent shifting of the boxes. As a result, employees were exposed to struck-by and caught-in hazards while working in the trench.