old-iron-habit
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2012
- Messages
- 4,233
- Location
- Moose Lake, MN
- Occupation
- Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
Had the OSHA inspector show up the other day for a project inspection. On these bigger projects we expect them at least once a year. We strive to make our projects as absolutely safe as we can but when OSHA shows up it is the most stressful day of the year for me.
Project: New Hospital, Status, shell is complete, brick being installed, inside 80% framed out, rough in and build out ongoing. Average 70 workers on site daily.
It went like this
8:30 AM OSHA inspector walked into my field office at 8:30 AM, identified himself and said he was going to audit the job. I asked for a pre inspection conference which he agreed he wanted also.
9:00: Had all subcontractors supervision gathered at the office trailer. The inspector gathered all names, companies, and received copies of each companies safety manuals. He then explained that we would tour as a group and he would interview workers from each company present. He asked for privacy to speak to them.
9:30: Left the office and toured the project. Looked at the 2 story brick scaffold and interviewed two workers. All was good. Looked at the 2nd floor debri chute and he had some questions and was OK with it. Our 2nd floor material landing zone has Garlock rails around it with a harness hanging on a retractable that is to be put on before the outer rail is swung open to land palletized stuff. He liked that and took pictures to share. After interviewing some electricians and fire alarm installers we walked into a break room. There was two microwaves plugged into a single power cord. He said that it was a fire danger as an extension cord was not to be used on a microwave. I mentioned that it was a heavy duty cord and that the entire temporary power system was ground fault protected. He asked the electrical supervisor what he thought. The reply was in a very calm, matter of fact voice. We are on a 20 amp breaker, the cord is rated for 30 amps, the microwave cords are rated for each machine with a UL listing on them. I don't see any danger. The worst thing would be a nuisance trip but absolutely no chance for fire or shock. The inspector said "I can't argue with that, let's move on. After a few more interviews we came across two cordless chargers, both with the outer insulation broke where the cord goes into the charger. The inner wired were intact. The framing contractor denied knowing who they belonged to. We all knew they belonged to his company but said nothing. The next people interviewed were the framers working in the area. The inspector came back to the group and stated that he asked the framers where their chargers were kept and they had pointed out the two in question. He stated that the contractor would get a non serious citation. We continued on and came upon a stairwell where the hand rail had been modified in order to trowel the concrete steps. Although the hand rail was up, there was a 7 by 10 inch hole along the edge where the stair jogged in which a foot could step. He asked me what I thought of that. I replied that it was not right, that they had placed the concrete the day before, and I then instructed one of my carpenters to fix it right away. We finished our tour and went back to the office for the post conference.
11:45 post conference. Generally he was satisfied. He stated that the framing contractor was getting a non serious citation for the charger cord. He stated that he had to go research the 7 x10 inch hole at the stairs and would advise if there would be a citation issued.
12:00 Noon: He left the site.
4:55 PM, I got a call from corporate safety that the OSHA inspector had called him and reviewed the inspection. He advised that the cord would be the only citation. He said that although the hole was a citable issue, he was not going to cite us because we took ownership and admitted it was incorrect, and we had corrected it immediately while he was still on site. If the framers had acknowledged the cord, I believe he would have been satisfied by them removing it from service.
In retrospect I guess that it's a good thing they are looking at minor issues. It means we are doing the right thing in making the jobs safer for the workers. It's still the most stressful part of the job!
My apologies for being long winded but wanted to put this out for others who will be there at some time or another.
Project: New Hospital, Status, shell is complete, brick being installed, inside 80% framed out, rough in and build out ongoing. Average 70 workers on site daily.
It went like this
8:30 AM OSHA inspector walked into my field office at 8:30 AM, identified himself and said he was going to audit the job. I asked for a pre inspection conference which he agreed he wanted also.
9:00: Had all subcontractors supervision gathered at the office trailer. The inspector gathered all names, companies, and received copies of each companies safety manuals. He then explained that we would tour as a group and he would interview workers from each company present. He asked for privacy to speak to them.
9:30: Left the office and toured the project. Looked at the 2 story brick scaffold and interviewed two workers. All was good. Looked at the 2nd floor debri chute and he had some questions and was OK with it. Our 2nd floor material landing zone has Garlock rails around it with a harness hanging on a retractable that is to be put on before the outer rail is swung open to land palletized stuff. He liked that and took pictures to share. After interviewing some electricians and fire alarm installers we walked into a break room. There was two microwaves plugged into a single power cord. He said that it was a fire danger as an extension cord was not to be used on a microwave. I mentioned that it was a heavy duty cord and that the entire temporary power system was ground fault protected. He asked the electrical supervisor what he thought. The reply was in a very calm, matter of fact voice. We are on a 20 amp breaker, the cord is rated for 30 amps, the microwave cords are rated for each machine with a UL listing on them. I don't see any danger. The worst thing would be a nuisance trip but absolutely no chance for fire or shock. The inspector said "I can't argue with that, let's move on. After a few more interviews we came across two cordless chargers, both with the outer insulation broke where the cord goes into the charger. The inner wired were intact. The framing contractor denied knowing who they belonged to. We all knew they belonged to his company but said nothing. The next people interviewed were the framers working in the area. The inspector came back to the group and stated that he asked the framers where their chargers were kept and they had pointed out the two in question. He stated that the contractor would get a non serious citation. We continued on and came upon a stairwell where the hand rail had been modified in order to trowel the concrete steps. Although the hand rail was up, there was a 7 by 10 inch hole along the edge where the stair jogged in which a foot could step. He asked me what I thought of that. I replied that it was not right, that they had placed the concrete the day before, and I then instructed one of my carpenters to fix it right away. We finished our tour and went back to the office for the post conference.
11:45 post conference. Generally he was satisfied. He stated that the framing contractor was getting a non serious citation for the charger cord. He stated that he had to go research the 7 x10 inch hole at the stairs and would advise if there would be a citation issued.
12:00 Noon: He left the site.
4:55 PM, I got a call from corporate safety that the OSHA inspector had called him and reviewed the inspection. He advised that the cord would be the only citation. He said that although the hole was a citable issue, he was not going to cite us because we took ownership and admitted it was incorrect, and we had corrected it immediately while he was still on site. If the framers had acknowledged the cord, I believe he would have been satisfied by them removing it from service.
In retrospect I guess that it's a good thing they are looking at minor issues. It means we are doing the right thing in making the jobs safer for the workers. It's still the most stressful part of the job!
My apologies for being long winded but wanted to put this out for others who will be there at some time or another.
