OSHA Inspection: HALME, INC.

Issued

Jan 13, 2026

Abate by

Feb 13, 2026

Penalty

Initial $3,376 · Current $1,688 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.251(a)(6): Each day before being used, and during use, where service conditions warrant, the sling and all fastenings and attachments were not inspected for damage or defects by a competent person, and damaged or defective slings were not immediately removed from service:  (a)Halme, Inc at 1st Street NE & Calumet Avenue N, De Smet, SD 57231:  On or about and at times prior to July 23, 2025, the employer did not ensure damaged slings used for lifting trench boxes onsite were inspected for damage or defects by a competent person and removed from service.  This exposed employees to crushing and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jan 13, 2026

Abate by

Feb 13, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.251(c)(16): Wire rope slings did not have permanently affixed, legible identification markings stating size, rated capacity for the type(s) of hitch(es) used and the angle upon it is based, and the number of legs if more than one:  (a)Halme, Inc at 1st Street NE & Calumet Avenue N, De Smet, SD 57231:  On or about and at times prior to July 23, 2025, the employer did not ensure steel rope slings used to lift the onsite trench box was properly labeled for size, grade, rated capacity, and manufacturer to determine proper use and application of slings.  This condition exposed employees to crushing hazards.

Issued

Jan 13, 2026

Abate by

Feb 13, 2026

Penalty

Initial $9,268 · Current $4,634 Reduced

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(a)(1): Each employee in an excavation was not protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.652 (b) or (c):  (a)Halme, Inc at 1st Street NE & Calumet Avenue N, De Smet, SD 57231:  On or about and at times prior to July 23, 2025, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system while conducting pipe installation activities within the unprotected excavation.  This condition exposed employees to cave-in hazards from trench wall failure.

Issued

Jan 13, 2026

Abate by

Feb 13, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(k)(1): Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems were not 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:  (a)Halme, Inc at 1st Street NE & Calumet Avenue N, De Smet, SD 57231:  On or about and at times prior to July 23, 2025, the employer did not ensure a competent person conducted an adequate inspected of the excavation prior to start of work and during each shift, in that the competent person did not physically manipulate the soil and relied on a visual inspection only of the soil and excavation area.  This condition exposed the employee to struck-by and cave-in hazards.

Issued

Jan 13, 2026

Abate by

Feb 13, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.651(j)(2): Protection was not provided by placing and keeping excavated or other materials or equipment at least 2 feet (.61m) from the edge of excavations, or by the use of retaining devices that were sufficient to prevent materials or equipment from falling or rolling into excavations, or by a combination of both if necessary:  (a)Halme, Inc at 1st Street NE & Calumet Avenue N, De Smet, SD 57231:  On or about and at times prior to July 23, 2025, the employer did not ensure that spoils piles were at least two feet from the edge of the excavation.  This condition exposed employees to cave-in and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jan 13, 2026

Abate by

Feb 13, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1053(b)(16): Portable ladders with structural defects, such as, but not limited to, broken or missing rungs, cleats, or steps, broken or split rails, corroded components, or other faulty or defective components, were not either immediately marked in a manner that readily identifies them as defective, or tagged with "Do Not Use" or similar language, and were not withdrawn from service until repaired:  (a)Halme, Inc at 1st Street NE & Calumet Avenue N, De Smet, SD 57231:  On or about and at times prior to July 23, 2025, the employer did not ensure that the damaged Louisville 20 foot extension ladder being used by employees to access the excavation was removed from service.  This condition exposed employees to fall hazards.