OSHA Inspection: PAULSEN, INC.

Issued

Nov 21, 2025

Abate by

Jan 16, 2026

Penalty

Initial $9,457 · Current $7,566 Reduced

Hazardous substances 05609000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(1):The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  The employer failed to provide a medical evaluation to protect employee(s) against respiratory distress and atmospheric hazards of wearing an employer mandated tight-fitting half-mask respirator during concrete truck drum chipping at the facility located at 1905 South Newberry Access - North Platte, Nebraska 69101. On or about the period of June 15, 2025 through July 5, 2025, employee(s) wearing tight-fitting half mask respirators entered concrete truck mixer drums to remove concrete with pneumatic chippers, had not received a medical evaluation to determine their ability to wear the respiratory protection.

Issued

Nov 21, 2025

Abate by

Jan 16, 2026

Penalty

Initial $9,457 · Current $7,566 Reduced

Hazardous substances 05609000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:   The employer failed to provide fit testing to protect employees from atmospheric hazards while wearing an employer-mandated tight-fitting half-mask and N95 filtering facepiece respirators during concrete truck drum chipping at the facility located at 1905 South Newberry Access - North Platte, Nebraska 69101. On or about the period of June 15, 2025 through July 5, 2025, employees wearing tight-fitting half mask and/or N95 filtering facepiece respirators entered concrete truck mixer drums to remove concrete with pneumatic chippers, had not received appropriate fit testing before their usage.

Issued

Nov 21, 2025

Abate by

Jan 16, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $13,240 Reduced

Hazardous substances 05609000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(3): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including, but not limited to items (d)(3)(i) through (d)(3)(vi) of this paragraph.  The employer failed to protect employees from the permit-required confined space entry hazards of struck-by, atmospheric, low visibility, mechanical, and heat stress of concrete truck mixer drums at the facility located at 1905 South Newberry Access - North Platte, Nebraska 69101 by developing and implementing safe entry procedures and practices of items (d)(3)(i) through (d)(3)(vi). On or about the period of June 15, 2025 through July 5, 2025, employees entered concrete truck mixer drums to remove concrete with pneumatic chippers, without the means, procedures, and practices necessary to protect them from the permit-required confined space hazards.

Issued

Nov 21, 2025

Abate by

Jan 16, 2026

Penalty

Initial $9,457 · Current $7,566 Reduced

Hazardous substances 05609000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(4)(i): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not provide, at no cost to the employees, testing and monitoring equipment needed to comply with 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5):   The employer failed to protect employees from permit-required confined space entry atmospheric hazards in concrete truck mixer drums at the facility located at 1905 South Newberry Access - North Platte, Nebraska 69101 by providing air testing and monitoring equipment. On or about the period of June 15, 2025 through July 5, 2025, employees entered concrete truck mixer drums to remove concrete with pneumatic chippers, without any available testing or monitoring equipment to check the atmospheric conditions before and during permit-required confined space entry.

Issued

Nov 21, 2025

Abate by

Jan 16, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $13,240 Reduced

Hazardous substances 05609000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(9): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, and for providing necessary emergency services to rescued employees.   The employer failed to protect employees from the permit-required confined space entry hazards of struck-by, atmospheric, low visibility, mechanical, and heat stress of concrete truck mixer drums at the facility located at 1905 South Newberry Access - North Platte, Nebraska 69101 by developing and implementing rescue and treatment procedures for the entrants. On or about the period of June 15, 2025 through July 5, 2025, employees entered concrete truck mixer drums to remove concrete with pneumatic chippers, without developing and implementing rescue procedures involving either outside or on-site rescue personnel.

Issued

Nov 21, 2025

Abate by

Jan 16, 2026

Penalty

Initial $9,457 · Current $7,566 Reduced

Hazardous substances 05609000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(e)(1): Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:   The employer failed to protect employees from the permit-required confined space entry hazards of struck-by, atmospheric, low visibility, mechanical, and heat stress of concrete truck mixer drums at the facility located at 1905 South Newberry Access - North Platte, Nebraska 69101 by documenting the completion of measures required by the standard by preparing an entry permit. On or about the period of June 15, 2025 through July 5, 2025, employees entered concrete truck mixer drums to remove concrete with pneumatic chippers, without the completion and documentation of a proper permit-required space entry permits.