OSHA Inspection: ARCHDIOCESE OF DENVER MORTUARY AT MOUNT OLIVET, INC.

Issued

Jun 2, 2026

Abate by

Jul 9, 2026

Penalty

Initial $3,376 · Current $1,000 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 in that employees were exposed to crushing hazards while operating an overhead, underhung, and stationary hoist:    a) On or about December 9, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary at Mount Olivet, Inc., did not verify the load to be lifted did not exceed the rated load of the CM Valustar electric chain hoist.  Employees in the Preparation Area were required to operate this overhead, underhung, and stationary hoist on a daily basis for casket lifting operations when the load rating of the hoist was not known.  This condition exposed employees to crushing hazards.  b) On or about December 9, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary at Mount Olivet, Inc., did not ensure the rated load of the CM Valustar electric chain hoist was marked on the hoist or its load block and legible from the ground or floor.  Employees in the Preparation Area were required to operate this overhead, underhung, and stationary hoist on a daily basis for casket lifting operations when the rated load was not visible on the hoist or its load block and legible from the ground or floor.  This condition exposed employees to crushing hazards.  c) On or about December 9, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary at Mount Olivet, Inc., did not ensure the CM Valustar electric chain hoist was visually inspected frequnelty and periodically.  Employees in the Preparation Area were required to operate this overhead, underhung, and stationary hoist on a daily basis for casket lifting operations. This condition exposed employees to crushing hazards.

Issued

Jun 2, 2026

Abate by

Jul 9, 2026

Penalty

Initial $4,502 · Current $1,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:   a) On or about December 9, 2025, and at times prior, employees were allowed to work under, over or near a the FlorLIFT (serial number 2502-96) casket lift, also known as a vertical reciprocating conveyor with a cantilever design.  The lift was not equipped with an emergency stop, gates or enclosures at each level, power chain guarding, guarding on the onboard carrier (platform or car), or roll-off panel.  Working under an unsupported, unguarded platform exposed employees to crushing, caught-between, or fatal injuries in the event the platform was inadvertently lowered.  The platform was open on three sides and caskets on carts could roll off and cause a struck-by/crushing injury to employees.    Or in the Alternative:  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 in that employees were exposed to struck-by and crushing hazards:  a) On or about December 9, 2025, and at times prior, employees were allowed to work under, over or near a the FlorLIFT (serial number 2502-96) casket lift, also known as a vertical reciprocating conveyor with a cantilever design.  The lift was not equipped with an emergency stop, gates or enclosures at each level, power chain guarding, guarding on the onboard carrier (platform or car), or roll-off panel.  Working under an unsupported, unguarded platform exposed employees to crushing, caught-between, or fatal injuries in the event the platform was inadvertently lowered.  The platform was open on three sides and caskets on carts could roll off and cause a struck-by/crushing injury to employees.

Issued

Jun 2, 2026

Abate by

Aug 31, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(1)(i): Except as provided elsewhere in this section 29 CFR 1910.28, the employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the systems described in 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  a) On or about December 9, 2025, employees were exposed to fall hazards through the opening where the FlorLIFT (serial number 2502-96) casket lift, also known as a vertical reciprocating conveyor with a cantilever design, moves caskets.  The lift was not equipped with gates or enclosures at each level to prevent falls.