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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">United States of America</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; ">OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">1120 20th Street, N.W., Ninth Floor</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; ">Washington, DC 20036-3457</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">SECRETARY OF LABOR,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; text-align:center; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Complainant,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; text-align:center; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">v.</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; ">
								</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">OSHRC DOCKET N</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">o</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">s. 20-0330 & 20-0626 </span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:0px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">FRAMING SPECIALIST, INC.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:3.467px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> Respondent.</span></p>
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				<p><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Appearances:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Amanda M. Wilmsen</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, Esq.<span>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Office of the Regional Solicitor</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">United States Department of Labor</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">201 Varick Street, Rm. 983</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">New York, NY 10014</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">For the Complainant</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Simeon Morales,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">pro se</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">80 West Central Blvd.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Palisades Park, N.J. 07650</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">For the Respondent</span></p>
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				<p><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Before: Keith E. Bell, Administrative Law Judge</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">DECISION AND ORDER</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">This proceeding is before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (the Commission</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>pursuant to section 10(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">§<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">6</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">5</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">9</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> (the Act). </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The two case docket numbers in the caption re</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">fer</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to separate inspection<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">events at different worksites</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>both<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">of which<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">cite Respondent, Framing Specialist, Inc. as the employer</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">. </span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">A hearing<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">for these cases was held on August 24, 2021</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>virtually using the WebEx online platform as provided and operated by the court reporter (Heritage Reporting Corporation).</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><a name="ftnref1" href="#ftn1">1</a></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Respondent/owner, Simeon Morales speaks Spanish and alerted the Court</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, in advance,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that he<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">needed the assistance of</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>an interpreter for the hearing. A Spanish interpreter was provided for Mr. Morales at the Commission’s expense.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><a name="ftnref2" href="#ftn2">2</a></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The parties<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">were given an opportunity to file<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">post-hearing brief</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">s; however, only the Secretary filed a brief</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">For the reasons that follow,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">the</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Citation</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">s in both cases</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">are</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; ">AFFIRMED</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; ">,</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">proposed pena</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">lties</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">are</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>assessed</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">Jurisdiction</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">T</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">he record<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">reveals</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that Respondent was engaged in residential construction work and the Court finds that such activities are considered “business affecting commerce”. </span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">See Clarence M. Jones d/b/a C. Jones Co</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">.</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">11 BNA OSHC 1529, 1530 (</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">No.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">77-3676, 1983) (holding that there is an interstate market in construction materials and services and therefore construction work affects interstate commerce).</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><a name="ftnref3" href="#ftn3">3</a></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; ">At the hearing, Respondent attempted to dispute coverage under the Act with an unsupported claim that he was not an employer<span><span></span>
					</span>because he had no employees<span><span></span>
					</span>at the worksites<span><span></span>
					</span>at issue in these cases.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><a name="ftnref4" href="#ftn4">4</a></span> It is established, by regulation,<span><span></span>
					</span>that an “employer” is covered by the Act if<span>
					</span>it employs one or more employees. 29 C.F.R. § 1975.4(a).</p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; ">The evidence adduced at the hearing establishes that Respondent employed at least one or more employees at each of the cited workplaces. For the December 10, 2019, inspection<span><span></span>
					</span>conducted at 240<span><span></span>
					</span>Wayne Ave.<span><span></span>
					</span>in Cliffside, New Jersey (Wayne Ave. worksite)<span><span></span>
					</span>cited in case docket no. 20-0330, the<span>
					</span>Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)<span>
					</span>Compliance<span>
					</span>Officer (CO)<span><span></span>
					</span>determined that a gentleman named Mr. Gomez was the foreman in charge of the worksite and that he worked for Respondent,<span>
					</span>Simeon<span><span></span>
					</span>Morales. Tr.<span>
					</span>54,<span>
					</span>56.<span>
					</span>Mr. Gomez called Mr. Morales on the phone whereupon he gave the CO permission to proceed with an inspection of the worksite.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><a name="ftnref5" href="#ftn5">5</a></span> Tr. 61. </p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; ">For the inspection conducted on February 20, 2020, at<span>
					</span>467<span>
					</span>9<span style="position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; ">th</span><span><span></span>
					</span>St. in Palisades Park, New Jersey (9<span style="position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; ">th</span><span><span></span>
					</span>St. worksite) cited in case docket no. 20-0626, the CO determined that Mr. Gomez was the foreman in charge of this worksite and<span>
					</span>Mr.<span>
					</span>Morales was his employer. Tr. 128-29. During the opening conference, Mr. Gomez called Mr. Morales on the phone so<span>
					</span>the<span>
					</span>latter<span>
					</span>could speak<span>
					</span>directly<span>
					</span>to the CO.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><a name="ftnref6" href="#ftn6">6</a></span> Tr. 132. The CO spoke<span>
					</span>again<span>
					</span>to Mr. Morales by phone for the closing conference. Tr. 133.</p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; ">Importantly,<span>
					</span>even assuming the Secretary had not adduced evidence that Respondent had employees at each worksite,<span>
					</span>the Court’s Order Granting the Secretary’s Motion for Sanctions foreclosed Respondent’s ability to raise a “coverage” defense. The Secretary’s Requests for Admissions deemed admitted by the Court’s Order explicitly establish that, at all relevant times, Respondent had employees. CX-1<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><a name="ftnref7" href="#ftn7">7</a></span>. </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The record establishes that at all times relevant to this case, Respondent was an “employer”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">engaged in a “business affecting commerce” within the meaning of section 3(5) of the Act, 29 U.S.C. § 625(5). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">Factual<span>
						</span></span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">Backgro</span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">und</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Respondent, Framing Specialist,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Inc.,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">is a company<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">that operates in New Jersey<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">and</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">engaged in framing for residential construction</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">. Tr. 28, 59, 127.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Docket<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">N</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">o. 20-0330</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">On December 19, 2019, CO</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Stuart Sydenstricker inspected the worksite located at 240 Wayne Ave</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in Clifford, New Jersey. Tr. 53-54. He was driving by the worksite and stopped to see if there were any fall hazards present as part of OSHA’s local emphasis program. Tr. 54. He observed that Respondent was performing framework at this residential construction worksite. Tr. 54-55. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">It is admitted that on December 10, 2019, the Wayne Ave.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">w</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">orksite included a structure with two levels that were located higher than ground level.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The first floor of the Wayne Ave. worksite structure was located approximately eight feet above the ground</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> The second floor was located approximately twenty feet above the ground.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">CX-1</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, CX-6a (photo).</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Docket<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">N</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">o. 20-0626</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">On February 20, 2020, CO Yimy Zapata came into contact with Respondent at its worksite located at 467 9</span><span style="position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; ">th</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Street in Palisades Park, New Jersey. Tr. 126. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">CO Zapata conducted an inspection of the worksite because he observed that workers framing a roof on this residential construction project were exposed to a fall hazard. Tr. 127. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">It is admitted that on February 20, 2020, the 9</span><span style="position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; ">th</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Street worksite included a structure with a roof that was located approximately twenty-five feet above ground. CX-1</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, CX-14</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(photo)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">Admitted Facts</span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;"><span><span></span>
						</span>(</span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">C</span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">X-1)</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;"><a name="ftnref8" href="#ftn8">8</a></span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">1.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">During the year 2019, Respondent owned and used equipment manufactured outside of the State of New York.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">2.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">During the year 2020, Respondent owned and used equipment manufactured outside of the State of New York.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">3.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">During the year 2019, Respondent received goods, materials merchandise, and/or equipment that were manufactured outside of the State of New York.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">4.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">During the year 2020 Respondent received goods, materials, merchandise, and/or equipment that were manufactured outside of the State of New York</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">5.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On December 10, 2019, at least one of Respondent’s employees at the Wayne Avenue Worksite did not wear eye protection while cutting wood with a saw or using a nail gun.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">6.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On December 10, 2019, at the Wayne Avenue Worksite, at least one of Respondent’s employees used a portable ladder to access an upper landing surface.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">7.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On December 10, 2019, at the Wayne Avenue Worksite, the portable ladder that Respondent’s employees used to access an upper landing surface extended approximately two feet above the upper landing surface.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">8.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On December 10, 2019, at the Wayne Avenue Worksite, the portable ladder that Respondent’s employees used to access an upper landing surface was not secured at its top to a rigid support.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">9.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On December 10, 2019, at the Wayne Avenue Worksite, Respondent did not provide a grasping device to assist employees in mounting and dismounting the portable ladder that Respondent’s employees used to access an upper landing surface.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">10.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On December 10, 2019, at the Wayne Avenue Worksite, at least one of Respondent’s employees used the top step or top of a stepladder as a step.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">11.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On December 10, 2019</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the Wayne Avenue Worksite included a structure with two levels that were located higher than ground level.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">12.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On December 10, 2019, one level of the structure at the Wayne Avenue Worksite was located approximately eight feet above the ground (the “first floor”).</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">13.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On December 10, 2019, the other level of the structure at the Wayne Avenue Worksite was located approximately twenty feet above the ground (the “second floor”).</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">14.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On December 10, 2019, at the Wayne Avenue Worksite, Respondent’s employees did not wear personal fall arrest systems while performing work on the first or second floors of the structure.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">15.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On December 10, 2019, Respondent did not provide any type of fall protection at the Wayne Avenue Worksite.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">16.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On February 20, 2020, the 9</span><span style="position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">th</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>Street Worksite included a structure with a roof that was located approximately twenty-five feet above the ground.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">17.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On February 20, 2020, at the 9</span><span style="position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">th</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>Street Worksite, Respondent’s employees who were working on the roof of the structure did not connect the harnesses of the personal fall arrest systems they were wearing to an anchorage.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">18.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On February 20, 2020, Respondent did not provide any type of fall protection aside from the harnesses which employees were wearing.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">19.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">During the two years prior to February 20, 2020, Respondent did not have any written fall protection plan.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">20.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent did not submit a notice of contest in response to the citations which were issued to Respondent on December 6, 2018</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>as a result of OSHA inspection number 1330224.</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:0; orphans:0; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">Secretary’s Burden of Proof</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The Secretary has the burden of establishing<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">the employer violated the cited standard.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">To prove a violation of an OSHA safety or health standard promulgated under § 5(a)(2) of the Act, the Secretary must establish</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>by a preponderance of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">evidence</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">:</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(1) the cited standard applies, (2) there was a failure to comply with the cited standard, (3)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">employee</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">s</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">had access to the violative condition, and (4) the employer knew or could have known of the condition with the exercise of reasonable diligence.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Astra Pharm. Prods</span>., 9 BNA OSHC 2126, 2129 (No. 78-6247<span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 1981)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">aff'd in relevant part</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 681 F.2d 691 (</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">1</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">st</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Cir. 1982</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">).</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">A preponderance of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">evidence</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is “that quantum of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">evidence</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>which is sufficient to convince the trier of fact that the facts asserted by a proponent are more probably true than false.”<span>
						</span></span><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Astra Phar</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">m</span>.,<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">9 BNA OSHC</span><span><span></span>
					</span>at 2131, n. 17<span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="page-break-before:page; "><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;"></span> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; "><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">Discussion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Docket No. 20-0330</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Citation 1; Item<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">1(Serious)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> The Secretary alleges a violation of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.102(a)(1)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>which provides:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Specifically, the Secretary alleges that:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">(a)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Interior of Building – Street Level Basement: Employees were exposed to eye injury while engaged in framing activities without the use of eye or face protection, on or about 12/10/19.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Applicability</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The CO<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">recommended this citation because he observed workers cutting wood with circular saws and nailing with pneumatic nail guns all without face or eye protection. Tr. 81. Part 1926</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>where the standard is codified within Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">is titled, “Safety and Health Regulations for Construction”. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Here, Respondent was engaged in framing for residential housing construction. Tr. 28. Also, the</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>plain language of the cited standard requires the use of face or eye protection from, among other things, hazards from flying particles. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">29 C.F.R. § 1926.102(a)(1). </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The standard applies.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Standard Violated</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">It is admitted that<span>
						</span></span>on December 10, 2019, at least one of Respondent’s employees at the Wayne Ave.<span><span></span>
					</span>worksite did not wear eye protection while cutting wood with a saw or using a nail gun. CX-1. The CO testified that wood cutting with circular saws produces<span><span></span>
					</span>particles that fly around and can get into your eye and cause injury. He further testified that a nail gun can ricochet on a hard surface, fly into your face, and possibly injure your face or eye. Tr. 82. </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Regarding employee access, t</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">he Commission has recognized that exposure may be established by showing “that it is reasonably predictable either by operational necessity or otherwise (including inadvertence), that employees have been, are, or will be in the zone of danger.”</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Nuprecon LP</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 23 BNA OSHC 1817, 1819 (No. 08-1307, 2012).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The zone of danger is “that area surrounding the violative condition that presents the danger to employees which the standard is intended to prevent.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">KS Energy Servs., Inc</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">., 22 BNA OSHC 1261, 126</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">4-6</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">5 (No. 06-1416, 2008)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">citing</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">RGM Constr. Co</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">.,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">17<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">BNA OSHC</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>1</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">229, 1234 (No. 91</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">-</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">2107,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">1995)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Here, the employees were within the “zone of danger” as they were performing the work<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">in a manner<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">that created the hazardous condition. </span>The evidence establishes that an employee had access to the hazard and the standard was violated.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Employer Knowledge</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The knowledge requirement</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>may be satisfied by proof either that the employer actually knew, or</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>had constructive knowledge<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">because</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>“with the exercise of reasonable diligence,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">[it]<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">could have known of the presence of the violative condition.”<span>
						</span></span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1992453695&pubNum=0003227&originatingDoc=I6cb985e3931e11d9bdd1cfdd544ca3a4&refType=CA&fi=co_pp_sp_3227_1814&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.DocLink)#co_pp_sp_3227_1814"><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
							</span>Pride Oil Well Serv.,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
							</span>15<span>
							</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">BNA OSHC</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
							</span>1809, 1814 (</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">No. 87-692,<span>
							</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">1992)</span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; ">The Commission has<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; ">also<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; ">held that an employer is chargeable with knowledge of conditions</span><span style="color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>which are plainly visible to its supervisory personnel. </span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">A.L. Baumgartner Constr. Inc.,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; ">16 BNA OSHC 1995, 1998 (No. 92-1022, 1994). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Here, t</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">he CO testified that the foreman, Mr. Gomez</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>not only directed the employees, but he was also working<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">alongside</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>three of them<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">as they</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>were<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">all<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">exposed to the</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>hazard created by the failure to use<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">eye protection.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> Tr. 83.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Foreman Gomez’s knowledge of the cited conditions is imputed to Respondent and e</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">mployer knowledge is established.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="page-break-before:page; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; "></span> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Classification</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">To demonstrate that a violation was “serious” under section 17(d) of the Act,</span><span style="font-size:14pt; font-family:Calibri; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Calibri; font-size:14pt; font-weight:bold; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">t</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">he Secretary must show a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm that could result from the cited condition and<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">that<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">the employer knew or shou</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">ld have known of the violation. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Secretary need not show the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">likelihood of an accident<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">occurring</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><a href="http://web2.westlaw.com/find/default.wl?mt=Westlaw&db=0003227&tc=-1&rp=%2ffind%2fdefault.wl&findtype=Y&ordoc=2026579713&serialnum=1991434457&vr=2.0&fn=_top&sv=Split&tf=-1&referencepositiontype=S&pbc=99658F2F&referenceposition=1024&rs=WLW12.04"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-style:italic; color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-style:italic; "><span class="IDAPFTGJBHKDAPFQ0E5LWSNUFRAM03I4YKBH4JCZBFKTPJ4JXFFIGH">Spancrete N</span></span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-style:italic; color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-style:italic; "><span class="IDHVRRN5WGLMHOPLLYSYGLMKU1PIVVMMAEGASETFDZSAPL5FMXXKWN">e.</span></span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-style:italic; color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-style:italic; "><span class="IDB4GKFTX13VG3JWU4BBIA4ADHKM4OAMFPMPL52SNLFITRCNKCXTKK">, Inc.</span></span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;"><span class="IDHUOW1LCFDHC2IDHWF032NWXCOM5Z2MVM3TPECBJBYIQK5ZK04YTK">, 15 BNA OSHC 1020, 1024 (No. 86-521, 1991)</span></span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">According to the CO, this citation item was classified as “serious” because an eye injury under these conditions could be severe or result in impairment</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>would require medical attention. Tr. 84. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">This citation item is properly classified as “serious”.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Citation 1; Item 2</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The Secretary alleges a violation of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.1053(b)(1) which states:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface, the ladder side rails shall extend at least 3 feet (.9 m) above the upper landing surface to which the ladder is used to gain access; or, when such an extension is not possible because of the ladder's length, then the ladder shall be secured at its top to a rigid support that will not deflect, and a grasping device, such as a grabrail, shall be provided to assist employees in mounting and dismounting the ladder. In no case shall the extension be such that ladder deflection under a load would, by itself, cause the ladder to slip off its support.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Specifically, the Secretary alleges that:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">(a)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Interior of Building – Garage: Employees were exposed to approximately 9 feet fall hazard while utilizing an extension ladder that only extend approximately 2 feet over the working surface, on or about 12/10/19.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Applicability</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The plain language of the cited standard requires that a ladder used to access an upper landing either extend 3 feet above the upper landing or be secured to a rigid support along with a grabbing device for mount and dismount. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">29 C.F.R. § 1926.1053(b)(1). </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The CO testified that a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">ladder was used at this worksite to access the 1</span><span style="position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; ">st</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>floor from the basement. Tr. 63. The standard applies.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Standard Violated</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "> It is admitted that on December 10, 2019, at the Wayne Ave.<span><span></span>
					</span>worksite, at least one of Respondent’s employees used a portable ladder to access an upper landing surface<span><span></span>
					</span>and the ladder only extended 2 feet<span><span></span>
					</span>above the upper landing. CX-1, CX-7<span><span></span>
					</span>(photo). It is also admitted that the ladder was not secured at its top to a rigid support, neither did Respondent provide a grasping device to assist employees in mounting and dismounting the portable ladder. CX-1. The evidence establishes that an employee had access to the hazard and the standard was violated.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Employer Knowledge</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Based on his discussion with Mr. Gomez,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">the CO</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>concluded<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">that he was aware of the cited conditions. Tr. 89. Among other things,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Mr. Gomez told the CO that they were using the ladder to access the upper floor, th</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">ey did not have another ladder, and there was no other way to access the first floor. Tr. 63, 87-88. Foreman Gomez’s knowledge of the cited conditions is imputed to Respondent and employer knowledge is established.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Classification</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The CO concluded that a fall from the ladder, which was 8-9 feet tall</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>could have caused serious injuries or fractures because the exposed employee would have fallen to the gravel floor below. Tr. 90. This citation item is properly classified as “serious”.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Citation 1; Item 3</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The Secretary alleges a violation of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.1053(b)(13)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>which states:</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The top or top step of a stepladder shall not be used as a step.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Specifically, the Secretary alleges that:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">(a)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Interior of Building – 1</span><span style="position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; ">st</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>floor: Employee was exposed to a 4 [foot] fall hazard while engaged in framing activities and utilizing the top<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">step</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and top of a step ladder, on or about 12/10/19.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><a name="ftnref9" href="#ftn9">9</a></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Applicability</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The plain language of the cited standard prohibits the use of the top of a step ladder as a step. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The CO testified that he observed an employee doing framing activity using a step ladder with one foot on the top step and the other on the top of the ladder. Tr. 95. The standard applies.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Standard Violated</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "> It is admitted that on December 10, 2019, at the Wayne Ave.<span><span></span>
					</span>worksite, at least one of Respondent’s employees used the top step or top of a stepladder as a step.<span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span>The evidence establishes that an employee had access to the hazard and the standard was violated.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Employer Knowledge</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The CO testified that Mr. Gomez knew about the cited conditions because he was there on site</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and fully aware of the height of each floor which could not easily be reached<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">with</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a 4-foot step ladder without using the top as a step. Tr. 96-97.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> Foreman Gomez’s knowledge of the cited conditions is imputed to Respondent and employer knowledge is established.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Classification</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The CO classified this citation item as “serious” because the exposed employee could lose balance, fall, and the resulting injury could include a fracture. Tr. 98. This citation item is properly classified as “serious”. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Citation 2; Item<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">1 (Repeat)</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The Secretary alleges</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>three (3) instances</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(designated as instance a, b, and c)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a violation of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.501(b)(13) which states:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Residential construction. Each employee engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system unless another provision in paragraph (b) of this section provides for an alternative fall protection measure. Exception: When the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use these systems, the employer shall develop and implement a fall protection plan which meets the requirements of paragraph (k) of § 1926.502.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Specifically, the Secretary alleges that:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">[] employees engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels were not protected by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system, nor were employee(s) provided with an alternative fall protection measure under another provision of paragraph 1926.501(b):</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">(a)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Exterior of Building – Second Floor: Employees without any means of fall protection were exposed to fall hazards</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of approximately 20 feet while engaged in framing activities loading materials, on or about 12/10/19;</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">(b) Exterior of Building – First Floor: Employees without any means of fall protection were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 8 feet while engaged in framing activities, on or about 12/10/19;</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">(c) Exterior of Building – Second Floor: Employee[s] without any means of fall protection were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 20 feet while retrieving a ladder, on or about 12/10/19.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Applicability</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The plain language of the cited standard requires the use of fall protection<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">when engaged in construction activities more than six (6) feet above a lower level. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">29 C.F.R. § 1926.501(b)(13). </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">It is admitted that the worksite included a structure with two levels higher than ground level. CX-1. It is further admitted that one level of the structure was approximately eight</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(8)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>feet above the ground</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and the other was approximately twenty feet above ground. </span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Id</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">. T</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">he cited standard applies. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Standard Violated</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "> It is admitted that on December 10, 2019, at the Wayne Ave.<span><span></span>
					</span>worksite, Respondent’s employees did not wear personal fall arrest systems while performing work on the first or second<span>
					</span>floors of the structure,<span>
					</span>nor did Respondent provide any type of fall protection at this worksite. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Id</span>. <span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span>The evidence establishes that an employee had access to the hazard and the standard was violated.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Employer Knowledge</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Regarding instance A, Mr. Gomez told the CO that they worked up there (second floor) earlier stacking wood and doing some framing work. They stopped due to the rain. Tr. 102. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Regarding instance B, Mr. G</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">omez was one of the employees working on the first floor and had a full view of the openings. Tr. 107</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">, CX-7a (photo).</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Regarding instance C, the CO observed an employee retrieve a ladder from the second floor. The employee who used the ladder to come down</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was on the second floor</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">. He was not wearing fall protection. Tr. 108. </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Mr. Gomez was with the CO during his inspection</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and, based on the CO’s testimony, the hazardous condition was in plain sight. </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.111cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Foreman Gomez’s knowledge of the cited conditions is imputed to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Respondent and employer</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>knowledge is established.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">C</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">lassification</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">This<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">citation item is an alleged “repeat” of a substantially similar violation previously cited. </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">A violation is repeated if the employer was previously cited for a substantially similar violation and th</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">e</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>citation became a final order before the occurrence of the alleged repeated violation</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Deep S</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">.</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Crane & Rigging Co.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 23 BNA OSHC 2099</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 2105</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(No. 09-0240, 2012)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 535 F. App’x. 386 (5</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">th</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Cir. 2013)(unpublished)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">;</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Potlatch<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Corp.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 7 BNA OSHC 1061</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 1063</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(No. 16183, 1979).</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">“[T]he principal factor in determining whether a violation is repeated is whether the two violations resulted in substantially similar hazards.”</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Amerisig S</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">e.</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">, Inc.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 17 BNA OSHC 1659, 1661</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">(No. 93-1429, 1996),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">aff'd without published opinion</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 117 F.3d 1433 (11th Cir. 1997).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="page-break-before:page; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; "></span> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Predicate Citation</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">On July 10, 2018, CO Joseph Murrin conducted an inspection of a worksite located at 439<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Ottawa</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Ave. in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(Ottawa Ave. worksite)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">. Tr. 25, 28. As he was driving by the worksite, the CO observed fall hazards. Respondent, Framing Specialist</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was doing framing work for residential house construction. Tr. 28. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The CO conducted an opening conference with a man who identified himself as the owner of the company, Simeon Morales.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><a name="ftnref10" href="#ftn10">10</a></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> Tr. 30-31. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The CO took a photograph that showed an employee</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at the edge of the structure with no fall protection. CX-20</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(photo)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, Tr. 35</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">During the closing conference, the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">CO discussed the need for fall protection (some type of harness) with Mr. Morales and his employees. Tr. 43. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">As a result, a citation was issued to Respondent because an employee was leaning over the edge of a structure approximately 13 feet above the ground without fall protection. CX-17</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(referencing inspection number 1330224</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>which included 1 serious; 2 item<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">citation</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The citation was mailed to Respondent via first-class mail. Tr. 39. It is admitted that Respondent did not submit a notice of contest to the citations issued to his company on or about December 6, 2018</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>as a result of inspection number 1330224.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><a name="ftnref11" href="#ftn11">11</a></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> The<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">2018<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">citation</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Secretary relies on</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in the present matter</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">support<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">a “repeat” c</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">lassification</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was issued for an alleged violation of 29 C.F.R. §</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">1926.501(b)(1)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">. This standard</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>states:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; ">Unprotected sides and edges. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Specifically, the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">p</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">revious<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">citation alleged:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">A) Exterior, on top of the structure. Employees were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 13 feet (front) and 18 feet (back) while engaged in framing work on the upper level of a structure without a means of fall protection in place, on or about July 10, 2018.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The CO testified that 29 C.F.R. § 1926.501(b)(13) could have been cited for this violation instead of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.501(b)(1)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>which was actually cited. Tr. 41. However, his supervisor suggested that 1926.501(b)(1) was the better citation because of the “leading sides and edges”</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and because the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">structure of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">roof was flat rather than pitched</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">. Tr. 42.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Regardless of the standard ultimately selected, t</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">he CO<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">testified that he<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">cited Respondent for a “fall hazard”. Tr. 43. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The plain language of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">both<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">1926.501(b)(1) and 1926.501(b)(13) clearly seek to protect workers from fall hazards. Accordingly, the Court finds that the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">hazards noted in the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">citation at issue here</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>which cites a violation of 1926.501(b)(13)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">are</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the same or substantially similar to the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">hazard</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>cited</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>during</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">the 2018 inspection. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The violation is properly characterized as “</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">repeat</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">”.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Docket No. 20-0626</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Citation 1; Item 1 (</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Willful</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">/Repeat)</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><a name="ftnref12" href="#ftn12">12</a></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> The Secretary alleges a violation of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.501(b)(13) which states:</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Residential construction. Each employee engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system unless another provision in paragraph (b) of this section provides for an alternative fall protection measure. Exception: When the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use these systems, the employer shall develop and implement a fall protection plan which meets the requirements of paragraph (k) of § 1926.502.</span></p>
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				<p style="page-break-before:page; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "></span> </p>
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				<p style="margin-top:16px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Specifically, the Secretary alleges that:</span></p>
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				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">(a) Roof frame: Employees were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 25 feet while framing the roof of a residential home without any means of fall protection in place, on or about 2/20/2020.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Applicability</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The plain language of the cited standard requires the use of fall protection when engaged in construction activities more than six (6) feet above a lower level. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">It is admitted that the structure on the 9</span><span style="position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; ">th</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>St. worksite</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>included a structure with a roof that was located approximately twenty-five feet above the ground and Respondent’s employees were working on the roof. CX-1. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The cited standard applies. </span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Standard Violated</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "> It is admitted that Respondent did not provide any type of fall protection aside from the harness the exposed employees were wearing. CX-1. It is admitted that on February 20, 2020, at the 9th Street worksite, Respondent’s employees who were working on the roof of the structure did not connect the harnesses of the personal fall arrest systems they were wearing to an anchorage. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Id</span>. The evidence establishes that an employee had access to the hazard and the standard was violated.</p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Employer Knowledge</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> Mr. Gomez was the foreman on site. Tr. 128. The CO testified that Mr. Gomez had knowledge of the cited condition because “he was in plain view of the employees being exposed to a fall hazard.” Tr. 138. Mr. Gomez’s knowledge of the cited condition is imputed to Respondent and employer knowledge is established.</span></p>
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				<p style="page-break-before:page; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; "></span> </p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Classification</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">“The hallmark of a willful violation is the employer's state of mind at the time of the violation—an ‘intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard for the requirements of the Act or ... plain indifference to employee safety.’</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">” </span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Kaspar Wire Works, Inc.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 18 BNA OSHC 2178, 2181 (No. 90-2775, 2000) (citation omitted),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">aff'd</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 268 F.3d 1123 (D.C. Cir. 2001).</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:16px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">[I]t is not enough for the Secretary to show that an employer was aware of conduct or conditions constituting the alleged violation; such evidence is already necessary to establish any violation .... A willful violation is differentiated by heightened awareness of the illegality of the conduct or conditions and by a state of mind of conscious disregard or plain indifference ....<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Hern Iron Works, Inc.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 16 BNA OSHC 1206, 1214 (No. 89-433, 1993);</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>see also</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Bianchi Trison Corp. v. Chao,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>409 F.3d 196, 208 (3d Cir. 2005)</span><span style="color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">(A willful violation of the OSH Act “constitutes an act done voluntarily with either an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the OSH Act’s requirements”</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>quoting<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Ensign-Bickford co. v. OSHRC</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 717 F.2d 1419, 1421 (D.C. Cir. 1983</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">).<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:16px; line-height:1.15; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">There must be evidence that an employer knew of an applicable standard or provision prohibiting the conduct or condition and consciously disregarded the standard. Without such evidence of familiarity with the standard's terms, there must be evidence of such reckless disregard for employee safety or the requirements of the law generally that one can infer that if the employer had known of the standard or provision, the employer would not have cared that the conduct or conditions violated it.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Williams Enters. Inc.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 13 BNA OSHC 1249, 1257 (No. 85-355, 1987). </span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">“The state of mind of a supervisory employee ... may be imputed to the employer for purposes of finding that the violation was willful.” </span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Branham Sign Co.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 18 BNA OSHC 2132, 2134 (No. 98-752, 2000);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Elliot Constr. Corp.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 23 BNA OSHC 2110, 2116-17 (No. 07-1578, 2012) (finding plain indifference when supervisor knew from prior experience and the day of the accident that carbon monoxide would be present and yet failed to monitor for it);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Adrian Constr. Co.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 7<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">BNA OSHC 1172, 1175 (No. 15414, 1979) (“A violation is willful if the evidence shows that the employer ignored an obvious and grave danger . . . ”).</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Heightened Awareness</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The Court finds that the Secretary has established that Respondent had a heightened awareness</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of the requirement to provide and ensure the use of fall protection by its employees.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">S</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">ee</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Hern Iron Works, Inc.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 16 BNA OSHC at 1214 (“A willful violation is differentiated by heightened awareness of the illegality of the conduct or conditions...”). </span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">CO Joseph Murrin testified that, during his 2018 inspection of the Ottawa Ave. worksite,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">he discussed the need for fall protection (some type of harness) with Mr. Morales and his employees. Tr. 43. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">CO Stuart Sydenstricker testified that, during his 2019 inspection of the Wayne Ave. worksite,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">he told Foreman Gomez and all of the employees that working without fall protection is dangerous. CO Sydenstricker further testified that in response they</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>replied</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, “you got us”. Tr. 111.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Although Mr. Morales was not at the worksite for the 2019 inspection, knowledge of the hazard and the CO’s warning are imputed to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Respondent<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">because his foreman, Mr. Gomez, was present.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Branham Sign Co.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 18 BNA OSHC at 2134 (“state of mind of a supervisory employee ... may be imputed to the employer for purposes of finding that the violation was willful.”) </span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Plain Indifference</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">The Court finds that<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Respondent acted with plain indifference</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Anderson Excavating & Wrecking Co.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 17 BNA OSHC 1890, 1892-94 (No. 92-3684, 1997) (plain indifference found based in part on failure to provide safety program,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">training,</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and protective equipment, combined with supervisory involvement and failure to act after notification of violations of the same standard at other sites)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>131 F.3d 1254 (8th Cir. 1997).</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "> It is admitted, and the record also reflects that<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Respondent did not have a written fall protection plan</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">d</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">uring the two years prior to<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">the<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">February<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">20,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">2020,</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>inspection</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">CX-1. Respondent’s attitude of “plain indifference” is also revealed in the fact that although at least one employee wore a harness during the 2020 inspection at the 9</span><span style="color:#000000; position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; ">th</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Ave. worksite, he wasn’t tied off with a lifeline or lanyard to an anchorage point. Tr. 135. In fact,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">the lifeline on site looked new and never used. Tr. 139. When the CO asked Mr. Gomez why employees were not tied off with the lifeline, he replied that the line gets in the way. Tr. 140. In this instance, unlike the previous inspections, Respondent had the necessary fall protection equipment<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">on-</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; ">site and still refused to</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>have employees</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>use it --- that is the very definition of “plain indifference”. </span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">This citation is properly characterized as willful.<span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">Penalty Determination</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The testimony regarding the proposed penalties for each of the alleged violations is undisputed in that Respondent did not address them in his brief testimony, nor did he offer any documentary evidence to dispute the penalty<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">criteria or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">amounts. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The Commission, as the final arbiter of penalties, must give due consideration to the gravity of the violation and to the employer's size, history</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and good faith</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">. J.A. Jones Constr. Co</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">., 15 BNA OSHC 2201, 2213-14 (No. 87-2059, 1993). These factors are not necessarily accorded equal weight, and gravity is generally the most important factor. </span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Trinity Indus., Inc.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 15 BNA OSHC 1481, 1483 (No. 88-2691, 1992). The gravity of a violation depends upon such matters as the number of employees exposed, duration of exposure, precautions taken against injury, and the likelihood that an injury would result</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">. J.A. Jones</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, 15 BNA OSHC at 2213-14.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For Citation 1, Item 1</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in case docket no. 20-0330</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, the CO testified<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">that penalty adjustments were made for company size and history. A 70% penalty reduction was applied for size</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and a 10% increase was applied based on citation history. No reduction was given for good faith because<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">there was no evidence<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">that Respondent had<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">health and safety program. Tr. 85. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The severity was rated “medium” because of the possibility that impact could result in eye injury. Tr. 84. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">CO’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">testimony regarding<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">the penalty criteria</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>for Citation 1, Item 2 and in case docket no. 20-0330 w</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">as</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>exactly the same. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">For Citation 1, Item 3</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in case docket 20-0330</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">, the CO</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">’s testimony regarding penalty was the same for “size, history, and good faith”. With regard to severity, he</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>testified that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">it<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">was rated “lesser/lower”</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>based on the possibility of serious injury. Tr. 98. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">For Citation 2, Item 1 in case docket no. 20-0330, the CO’s testimony was nearly the same; however, he added that he also considered Respondent’s failure to provide<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">fall protection when he made his determination that no reduction should be given for “good faith”. Tr. 114-15.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For Citation 1, Item 1 in case docket no. 20-0626, the CO testified that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">the severity and probability were rated high because there could have been a death. Also, there was a 70% reduction for company size. Tr. 143. There were no adjustments made for history or good faith. Tr. 144.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The evidence supports a finding that the penal</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">ties proposed for the citations in each docket (20-0330 & 20-0626)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">are</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>appropriate. </span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">The foregoing constitutes the findings of fact and conclusions of law in accordance with Rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">ORDER</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is ORDERED that:</span></p>
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				<span style="padding-right:20px;">1.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>Item 1 of</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Citation 1</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>in case docket no. 20-0330</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, alleging a violation of 29 C.F.R.<span>
					</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">§ </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">19</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">26</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">102(a)(1</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>is AFFIRMED</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>as Serious</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>and a penalty<span>
					</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in the amount of</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>$</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2,545</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.00 is assessed</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">2.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Item 2 of Citation 1</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>in case docket no. 20-0330, alleging a violation of 29 C.F.R. §</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>1926.1053(b)(1), is AFFIRMED</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>as Serious</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, and a penalty in the amount of $2,545.00 is assessed.</span></p>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">3.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Item 3 of Citation 1 in case docket no. 20-0330, alleging a violation of 20 C.F.R. §</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>1926.1053(b)(13), is AFFIRMED</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>as Serious</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, and a penalty in the amount of $1,908.00 is assessed.</span></p>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">4.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Item 1 of Citation 2 in case docket no. 20-0330, alleging a violation of 29 C.F.R. §</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
					</span>1926.501(b)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(13)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, is AFFIRMED as Repeat, and a penalty in the amount of $ 8,906.00 is assessed.</span></p>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; text-align:justify; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:0; orphans:0; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">5.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Item 1 of Citation 1 in case docket no. 20-0626, alleging a violation of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.501(b)(13) is AFFIRMED as Willful, and a penalty in the amount of $29,686.00 is assessed.</span></p>
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				<p> </p>
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				<p style="text-align:justify; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">DATED:</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">January 31, 2022</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;">/s/Keith E. Bell</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1.15; text-align:justify; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "> Washington, D.C.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">KEITH E. BELL</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1.15; text-align:justify; widows:0; orphans:0; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Judge, OSHRC</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
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			<hr/>"
      <div>
				<p>
					<a name="ftn-1" href="#ftnref-1"></a> </p>
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				<p>
					<a name="ftn0" href="#ftnref0"></a> </p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn1" href="#ftnref1"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">1 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The hearing was held remotely on motion of the Secretary and with the consent of Respondent, Simeon Morales.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn2" href="#ftnref2"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">2 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>To ensure access for<span>
					</span>persons with limited English proficiency, the Commission follows its<span><span></span>
					</span>language access plan. This plan was developed and implemented in compliance with Executive Order 13166<span><span></span>
					</span>and provides language interpretation and translation services.</p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn3" href="#ftnref3"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">3 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">The Court concludes that admissions nos. 1-4<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">in the Secretary’s exhibit marked CX-1<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">must have been cut and pasted from another document/case because they attempt to establish that Respondent was engaged in interstate commerce outside of New York; however, it is important to note that, according to the evidence of record, Respondent is a company headquartered in New Jersey (not New York) that did business locally in New Jersey. </span></p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn4" href="#ftnref4"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">4 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>It is important to note that Respondent<span>
					</span>did not<span>
					</span>raise this “coverage” defense in his answer, nor did he raise it at any time prior to the hearing. Also, the Secretary did not have an opportunity to explore this defense in discovery because Respondent did not participate in discovery.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn5" href="#ftnref5"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">5 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The CO spoke to Mr. Morales in Spanish because it is Mr. Morales’<span>
					</span>primary<span><span></span>
					</span>language. Tr. 57.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn6" href="#ftnref6"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">6 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>CO Zapata is fluent in Spanish<span>
					</span>,which is<span>
					</span>Mr.<span>
					</span>Morales’ primary language. Tr. 126.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn7" href="#ftnref7"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">7 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>CX denotes Complainant’s exhibit.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn8" href="#ftnref8"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">8 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>These facts were deemed admitted by Order of the Court on July 13, 2021,<span><span></span>
					</span>in an Order that granted the Secretary’s Motion for Sanctions. The Motion for Sanctions was filed<span><span></span>
					</span>and granted<span><span></span>
					</span>based on Respondent’s failure to comply with the Court’s Order that granted the Secretary’s Motion to Compel<span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn9" href="#ftnref9"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">9 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>During the hearing, the Secretary made a motion to amend the narrative of this citation to replace the word “set” with “step”. The motion was granted. Tr. 94. </p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn10" href="#ftnref10"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">10 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Notably, Mr. Morales admitted that he had an employee at this worksite; however, he complained that his employee was not depicted in the photograph marked CX-20. </p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn11" href="#ftnref11"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">11 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Act provides that:</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; ">If, within fifteen working days from the receipt of notification issued by the Secretary, the employer fails to notify the Secretary that he intends to contest the notification or proposed assessment of penalty, the notification and assessment, as proposed, shall be deemed a final order of the Commission and not subject to review by any court or agency. 29 U.S.C. 659 § 10(b).</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn12" href="#ftnref12"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">12 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>In his Complaint, the Secretary amended the Citation to allege a “willful” violation of the Act and pled, in the alternative, that the alleged violation was a “repeat” violation of the Act. The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Procedural Rules permit parties to plead alternative claims or defenses. 29 C.F.R. § 2200.30(e).</p>
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