Had A Visit From OSHA Today

6stringmason

Well, had my first visit from OSHA today.

Scaffolding not double braced all the way up, metal plates missing on 3 of the 6 blocks of shoring, my guy wasnt tied off well enough, work platforms were not planked completely all the way off, and the ext ladder wasnt tall enough, and my worker had JUST removed the outrigger we use as a guard so he could edge over a bit to put a stone on.

We were 6 scaffold high.

Each infractions carries a minimum of $1500 and a max of $5000 fine.

The scaffold was double braced most of the way up, but we ran out of some braces so had to skip a couple. We were missing 4.

He did say he was impressed with how well we had constructed it, with what we had to work with. It was a steep grade and we had to build over a 2nd story porch to hit a gable that is about 35' up.

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Kamps Masonry & Concrete Countertop Design Green Bay, WI
920-680-3195
Visit our website @
http://www.concretecountertopsdesign.com/

mdshunk

Just through their hoops, document a safety plan, and you'll get a slap on the wrist.

genecarp

o ****, when will you no what the fines are, will you definately have to pay $.

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joasis

So were they just driving by? We don't see them unless someone calls or there has been an accident.

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Rebecca

Generally, OSHA means take a break around here.

We all like to think we work safely, but there is always something.

Cdat

We just got a visit from the EPA last week. Conspiracy? Too much diesel fuel on site! OMFG! THAT was it.

Winchester

I like that.

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Ryan

6stringmason

Yeah they were just driving by. Its in a new subdivision with multi million dollar homes, so they like to cruise through there I guess.

They're going to send me the citations through the mail and then I will have to have a meeting at their office. Not looking forward to it regardless.

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Kamps Masonry & Concrete Countertop Design Green Bay, WI
920-680-3195
Visit our website @
http://www.concretecountertopsdesign.com/

Cdat

Union town? Bribe 'em.

BattleRidge

Last time I was on a site and osha showed up I just left talked to no one.

orson

I'm with Rebecca. When OSHA shows up every subcontractor foreman on site gets a call and told to suspend all work ASAP until further notice.

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Lancaster Remodeling Contractor - Lancaster Remodeling
Kitchen & Bath Remodeling PA- Bathroom Remodeling Lancaster PA
Custom Kitchen Remodeling PA - Ruby Construction FaceBook-Lancaster Bathroom Remodeling

Double-A

Buy your additional braces and keep the receipt handy, get the harnesses out and take photos of them, write up a safety policy, etc. and take all that with you to the meeting.

The regional person has the power to waive all those citations as he pleases. Fix the problems, show compliance, show that you have moved to a proacative attitude and they will be soft about it. They are more worried with you doing this again in the future than they are about the money.

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"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

Tscarborough

Fix it to spec, and then meet. Be sure and invite them back out, too, after you thank them for making your jobsite safer. You should also get yourself at least certified as "competent person" on scaffold.

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It ain't Rocket Science unless you are building rockets.

swantucky

If this is your first go around with OSHA I would suggest you find someone with some expirence dealing with them to help you out. A trade association rep. or a private consultant, could really help you out. I know the first time we dealt with them we hired a consultant to help us through it, we started out with almost $20,000 in fines and ended up paying under $1000. More importantly than the cost of the fines you do not want to have violations on your record. If you get caught doing the same thing agian the fines can be multiplied by seven, they can consider it willful.

Being a mason you certainly do alot of work from scaffold. Your exposure to future problems is too great to take this lightly.

Remodel Bud

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Carport King

Now this is the smartest man I know! Great advise.

BattleRidge

yeah our area is small enough that osha only stops by every once in a while so as long as your not the first site to get hit you know they are coming.