OSHA Inspection: ORTEGA MASONRY INC

Issued

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3547.00 · Current $2128.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.304(d): Portable, power-driven circular saw(s) were not equipped with a guard above and below the base plate or shoe:   On or about September 17, 2025, at a newly constructed residential home:   a. Employees were cutting bricks and stones using a Dewalt saw without a guard installed. b. Employees were cutting bricks and stones using a Dewalt saw without a guard installed. c. Employees were cutting bricks and stones using a  saw without a guard installed. d. Employees were cutting bricks and stones using a  saw without a guard installed.

Issued

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4965.00 · Current $2979.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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 September 17, 2025, at a newly constructed residential home, employees were exposed to electrical hazards when powering a DeWalt saw by plugging  an extension cord into  a power outlet extender which is prohibited in the listing and labeling.

Issued

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3547.00 · Current $2128.00 Reduced

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 to prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  On or about September 17, 2025, at a newly constructed residential home:  a.  Employees were using a DeWalt saw with exposed bare wires on the electrical cord with inadequate strain relief. b.  Employees were using a saw connected to an extension cord with exposed bare wires with inadequate strain relief.

Issued

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4965.00 · Current $2979.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.451(b)(1):Each platform on all working levels of scaffolds was not fully planked or decked between the front uprights and the guardrail supports as specified in paragraphs 1926.451(b)(1)(i)-(ii)  On or about September 17, 2025, at a newly constructed residential home,  employees were installing bricks and stones to the exterior of the home from a fabricated frame scaffolding without the platform being fully decked between the uprights.

Issued

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.451(e)(1):When scaffold platforms were more than 2 feet (0.6 m) above or below a point of access, portable ladders, hook-on ladders, attachable ladders, stair towers (scaffold stairways/towers), stairway-type ladders (such as ladder stands), ramps, walkways, integral prefabricated scaffold access, or direct access from other scaffold, structure, personnel hoist, or similar surface was not used.  Crossbraces were used as a means of access.  On or about September 17, 2025, and at times prior thereto, on the North side of a newly constructed residential home,  employees were installing bricks and stones from a fabricated frame scaffolding without a ladder or other safe means of access.

Issued

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.451(f)(14):Makeshift devices, such as but not limited to boxes and barrels, were used on top of scaffold platforms to increase the working level height of employees:  On or about September 17, 2025, at newly constructed residential home located in Conroe, Texas, employees were exposed to a fall hazard while working from a makeshift device located on top of a scaffold platform to increase the working level heights.

Issued

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.451(g)(1):Employees on scaffolds more than 10 feet (3.1 m) above a lower level were not protected from falling to that lower level by fall protection established in paragraphs (g)(1)(i)-(vii) of this section:  On or about September 17, 2025, on the front side of a newly constructed residential home in Conroe, Texas, employees were installing bricks and stone to the exterior of the home working at height exceeding 10 feet from fabricated frame scaffolding with outriggers installed without a fall protection system or guardrail system in place.

Issued

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.452(c)(2): Tubular welded frames and panels were not braced by cross, horizontal, or diagonal braces, or combination thereof, which would have secured vertical members together laterally:  On or about September 17, 2025, at a newly constructed residential home,  employees were installing bricks and stones to the exterior of the home from a fabricated frame scaffolding without all frame and panels braced by cross, horizontal, or diagonal braces, or combination thereof.

Issued

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.454(a):The employer did not have each employee who performed work while on a scaffold 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 September 17, 2025, and at times prior thereto, on the North side of a newly constructed residential home, employees were working from a scaffold, installing stones and bricks, without having been trained to recognize and minimize hazards associated with the scaffold.