This week OSHA announced they issued a WILLFUL citation in the amount of $49,500 to a project general contractor of a power plant construction project. The citation was for allowing a worker to wear a tight-fitting respirator over facial hair while the worker removed lead-containing paint. Facial hair can encumber a respirator from being properly sealed, thus exposing the worker to lead inhalation. OSHA also issued citations to five (5) sub contractors for a total of $280,000…
OSHA also issued the company 14 serious citations, with $66,600 in fines, for
- assembling and using cranes on unstable ground;
- a 100-foot fall hazard through an unguarded wall opening;
- failing to train workers adequately to install fall protection systems;
- allowing workers to be close to an energized electrical panel, therefore exposing them to arc flash and blast hazards; and
- uncovered and unlabeled floor holes
Other serious citations include
- not performing air monitoring and determining lead exposure levels when removing lead- containing paint;
- not keeping work areas clear of debris;
- defective rigging equipment; and
- unguarded grinders
Total citations to the general contractor were $116,280.
Also cited was a contractor which performed excavation and utilities work and installed concrete foundations. It faces a total of $85,000 in fines. It was issued one willful citation, with a $70,000 fine, for having workers in two excavations that lacked cave-in protection. Three serious citations, with $15,000 in fines, involve failing to protect workers against loose rocks falling into the excavation hole, using a closed stepladder to access a trench box and not providing cave-in protection for workers in front of a 6-foot-deep excavation.
A contractor which performed masonry work, faces a total of $56,000 in fines. It was issued a willful citation, with a $44,000 fine, for exposing workers to scaffold collapses due to an inadequately braced scaffold. Three serious citations, with $12,000 in fines, involve overloaded outriggers, storing excess supplies on the scaffold and lack of toeboards.
An electrical contractor that installed the primary electrical wiring and transmission lines, was issued one serious citation with a $5,000 fine, for exposed live electrical wiring, unlabeled electrical panels and not closing unused electrical cabinet openings effectively.
An electrical contractor which installed and maintained temporary power throughout the job site, was issued five serious citations, with $11,600 in fines. It allowed workers to be close to an energized 480-volt electrical panel, which exposed workers to arc flash and blast hazards; it did not ensure the use of personal protective equipment; and it overlooked deficiencies involving temporary lighting, electrical cords and a panel, and did not guard an energized electrical panel from water.
The company which furnished and installed the main power transformer, was issued one serious citation, with a $7,000 fine, for allowing workers to be close to an energized electrical panel.
The citations can be viewed at https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=24975