Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001B Hazard:

29 CFR 1926.651(k)(2): Where a competent person found evidence of a situation that could result in a possible cave-in, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions, exposed employees shall be removed from the hazardous area until the necessary precautions have been taken to ensure their safety: a) On or about July 11, 2011, and at times prior, employees were exposed to cave-in hazards because the employer did not take precautions to remove employees that stood at the edge of an approximately 16 feet deep caisson (trench) which was sloughing and belling at the bottom of the drilled shaft. On July 11, 2011, an employee was fatally injured when he fell into a caisson after the ground he stood on collapsed because it had been undercut from sloughing and belling. OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE: Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards which were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that, employees were exposed to cave-in hazards: a) On or about July 11, 2011, and at times previous, employees were exposed to cave-in hazards because the employer did not take precautions to remove employees that stood at the edge of an approximately 16 feet deep caisson which was sloughing and belling at the bottom of the drilled shaft. On July 11, 2011, an employee was fatally injured when he fell into a caisson after the ground he stood on collapsed because it had been undercut from sloughing and belling. Abatement: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazard is to remove employees from the area when belling of the caisson has or is likely to occur until the caisson walls have been stabilized.