OSHA Inspection: GERLACH'S GARDEN AND POWER EQUIPMENT CENTER, INC.

Issued

Jun 17, 2025

Abate by

Jul 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,020 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that potential crushing hazards existed from lifts not being inspected:  a.)  Gerlach's Garden and Power Equipment Center, Inc. - On or about 12/23/24, and at times prior thereto, employees were potentially exposed to struck-by hazards while working under and/or near potentially defective automotive lifts due to the lack of an automotive lift inspection program.  The automotive lifts were not inspected at least annually by a qualified inspector.  In addition, procedures were not established to conduct daily and/or routine inspections the automotive lifts to identify defects with the working operation of the lifts.  Daily and/or routine inspections of components such as, but not limited to, the structural components, electrical components and wiring, lift controls, including operation of the positive stop, and the lift locks for the automotive lifts were not conducted.      b.)	 Gerlach's Garden and Power Equipment Center, Inc. - On or about 12/23/24, and at times prior thereto, employees were potentially exposed to struck-by hazards while working under and/or near potentially defective automotive lifts due to the lack of a preventative maintenance program for automotive lifts.  An automotive lift preventative maintenance program containing established periodic, planned maintenance procedures was not developed, documented, and implemented.   ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED: Abatement certification is required within 10 days after the abatement date noted on the citation (see below).  This certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date abatement was completed, method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 17, 2025

Abate by

Jul 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $6,620 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.133(a)(1):Protective eye equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment:  a.)  Gerlach's Garden and Power Equipment Center, Inc. - On or about 12/20/24, and at times prior thereto, employees were not required to wear eye protection when working in the maintenance garage on trucks.   An employee sustained a loss of his eye when not wearing safety glasses while performing work under tension and a clamp broke and struck him in the eye.  In addition, employees were exposed to general eye hazards from working under an elevated vehicle from falling debris and dust.   ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED: Abatement certification is required within 10 days after the abatement date noted on the citation (see below).  This certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date abatement was completed, method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 17, 2025

Abate by

Jul 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,215 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D):   a.)  Gerlach's Garden and Power Equipment Center, Inc. - on or about 12/23/25, and at times prior thereto: The company's lockout/tagout procedures were not specific. Equipment with deficient procedures include, but was not limited to, elevated dump trucks.  The procedure lacked specific steps to lockout stored energy during servicing and maintenance.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED: Abatement certification is required within 10 days after the abatement date noted on the citation (see below).  This certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date abatement was completed, method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 17, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment:  a.)  Gerlach's Garden and Power Equipment Center, Inc., on or about 12/23/24 and times prior thereto:  The company provides employees with personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, safety glasses, gloves and hearing protection for work operations.  The company did have written personal protective equipment hazard assessments.  NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION OR DOCUMENATION REQUIRED