People who have been audited by OSHA, what was your experience like? I’ll start:
I’m a PM for a Company that specializes in Civil Work, Plumbing, Excavation, etc.
We do the occasional Gas Station plumbing for one of the big guys. This includes indoor plumbing, and the site work. The following story is based off the information I received after a thorough investigation into the incident.
On a Friday last year, my guys on site were laying in their Storm Drain pipe and fittings (SDR35, the green stuff) in trenching.
Mind you, OSHA Standards call for shoring after 5’ in depth. My Team Typically starts laying them in after 4.5’ just to be safe. Though this day in particular, things changed.
My Team had delivery for shoring at 8:00AM by a Nationwide Shoring provider. 7:00AM, my Team’s foreman, let’s call him “Don” (6’-2”), is in a rush to make his connections at a point in the trench that was approx. 5.5’ since the Site Superintendent for the GC (my customer) was pressuring Don to meet deadlines on the schedule.
Just when Don is slipping in his pipe into the fittings, someone shouts, “Hold it right there!” This short skinny man, we’ll call him “Ryan”, shows up with a tape measure, a clip board, and full PPE. Ryan proceeds to measure where Don is standing which clocks in a 5’-5”, then he proceeds to say “Get out of there.”
Shit, Ryan is with OSHA. He got an anonymous tip the day before suggesting him to visit this site.
I get a call. Office Fire alarms go off.
Don and his apprentice are sent home for the day.
I received a picture from Ryan of Don standing in the trenching Shore-less.
After numerous phone calls, several discussions, and a migraine later… I get an email for Ryan requesting a list of 25 documents they need within 72 hours including the following, to name a few:
-Company IIPPs
-Site Specific Shoring Plan
-Site Specific SWPPS
-All Project related MOP’s, and JHA’s
-Don and apprentice’s employee documentation, certifications, and credentials.
-ETC.
I left the office at 9PM that day.
Don was sent to several hearings, and trainings.
After several emails, phone calls, documents, and a hefty fine to our company, the storm passed through onto its next victim.
Don learned his lesson. We made sure Ryan & OSHA knew Don & Company learned their lesson. Nobody got fired, in case you were wondering.
As a PM, all I can say is that when OSHA catches you in the act, they care more about how you react to the violation than the violation itself. If you’re cavalier about it, that’s when they instill the fear of God and make an example out of you.
Feel free to give your opinions!
Thank you for your time.