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				<p style="line-height:1; "><div><img style="" alt="Picture 1" height="89" width="98" align="bottom" src="All Wall ALJ Decision_files/image1_0.png" xmlns="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/package/2006/relationships"/></div><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></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">United States of America</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; ">OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; ">1120 20th Street, N.W., Ninth Floor</p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:center; ">Washington, DC 20036-3457</p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:-48px; "><span style="font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:8pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:8pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:8pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:8pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:8pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:8pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:8pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:8pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:8pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:8pt; ">
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">SECRETARY OF LABOR,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Complainant,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> A SIMPLIFIED PROCEEDING</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; text-align:center; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">v.</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">
								</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSHRC DOCKET NO.<span>
									</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">7-1697</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ALL WALL BUILDERS, LLC</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Respondent.</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:left; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Appearances:</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Ka</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e S. O’Scannlain</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, Solicitor of Labor</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Jeffrey S. Rogoff</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, Regional Solicitor</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:48px; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Alex</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ander M. Kondo</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Attorney</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">      </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">U.S. Department of Labor,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">New York, New York</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">                             For the Complainant</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:left; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Laurel J. Eveleigh</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:left; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">D. Christian Fischer</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:left; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Alario & Fisc</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">her, P.C., East Syracuse, New York</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:left; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">                            For Respondent</span></p>
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				<p style="line-height:1; text-align:left; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Before:  Administrative Law Judge<span>
						</span></span>Dennis L. Phillips</p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "> </p>
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				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">DECISION AND ORDER</span></p>
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					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>T<span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">his proceeding is before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (Commission) pursuant to sections 2-33 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651-678 (OSH Act). At the conclusion of an investigation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a serious Citation, with two separate items to All Wall Builders, LLC (All Wall). The Citation alleges that All Wall violated<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">29 C.F.R.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">§</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">§</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1926.501(b)(1), 1926.</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">10</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">53(b)(1), and proposes a<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">total of<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">$7,244<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">penalt</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ies</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. All Wall<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">filed a timely notice of contest, bringing this matter before the Commission.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Th</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">is matter was assigned to the Simplified Proceedings docket, pursuant to Commission Rules of Procedure Rules 201-203, 29 C.F.R.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">§</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">§</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>2200.20</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1-203</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. (Tr. 10-11.) As such, neither a complaint nor an answer was required, and none was filed. </span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A Joint Pretrial Statement (Jt. Pre-Hr’g) was filed on April 2, 2018. </span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A hearing was held in<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Syracuse, New York on April 27, 2018. </span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Both parties filed post-hearing briefs and post-hearing reply briefs.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">For the reasons set forth below, the Court affirms both<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">items in the C</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">itation.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">JURISDICTION</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">All Wall admits that, as of the date of the alleged violations, it was an employer engaged in business affecting commerce within the meaning of section 3(5) of the OSH Act.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref2" href="#ftn2">1</a></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Jt. Pre-</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Hr’g</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">¶¶</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>1-4</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">) </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Based upon the record, the Court finds that at all relevant times<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">All Wall<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">was engaged in a business affecting commerce and was an employer within the meaning of sections 3(3) and<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3(5) of the OSH Act.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Court concludes the Commission has jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter in this case.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-align:center; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-weight:bold; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">BACKGROUND</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">All Wall</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>along with at least one other contractor,</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Mulvey Construction,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">was retained<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">for a construction project at 95 Beaver Street, Cooperstown, NY</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">13326<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(the Worksite)</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref3" href="#ftn3">2</a></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 56</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 152</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.) </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">At the time of the inspection,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">five All Wall employees were present at the site, including the President and a foreman. </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">95</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 1</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">53-54</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.) </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The employees were installing<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">metal trusses on the building roof.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref4" href="#ftn4">3</a></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (Tr. 22; Ex. 4.) </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">On August 29, 2017,</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at about 11:</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0 a.m.,</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>an OSHA Safety Compliance Officer, Dominick De</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">S</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">imone<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Jr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(CO), was traveling by the<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">W</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">orksite<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in a car<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">when he observed a potential violation of the OSH Act.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref5" href="#ftn5">4</a></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">19-</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 39</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 49</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">; Ex. L at 1</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.) </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">He<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">first<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">parked his car<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at a store’s parking lot<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">across the street from the Worksite</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">21,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">40.) </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">He took a few photographs from that location</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">29-</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">30</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 40</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-41</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">; Ex</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>4</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-5.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">) </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">He also took photographs from a parking lot located at the north side of the Worksite. (Tr. 29</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-30</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">; Ex. 10.) After entering<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Worksite, the CO spoke with<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">both<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">All Wall’s</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>foreman,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chis</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Kovack, and the President of All Wall,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Carl Westcott. (</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">3</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-34, 168, 172;<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Jt. Pre</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Hr’g at<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">¶<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5.) </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Both were performing tasks on the ground level<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at that time. </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 169-70;<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Ex. 4 at<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">H</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">”</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Kov</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ck</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">]</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.)<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Th</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ree<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">All Wall<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">carpenter<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">emp</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">loyees<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">were<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>on the roof</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">; Messrs.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Humberto and Roman Vixtha and Rigoberto Juarez.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 22</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">32,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">147,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">153-54,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">169</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 207</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">; Exs. 4, 10.)</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Mr. Westcott to</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">l</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d the CO that Foreman Kov</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ck was normally the person that monitors<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">worksite safety, but since he (Mr. Westcott) was operating the lift, he (Mr. Westcott) was in charge that day at the Worksite.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref6" href="#ftn6">5</a></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (Tr. 34.) </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">CO Desimone then conducted interviews of All Wall employees, who were asked to come down from the roof. (Tr. 34.) </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">He took one last photograph of trusses atop the building just before leaving the Worksite. (Tr. 55-56; Ex. 12.) </span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The CO departed the Worksite at about 12:3</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">5</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>p.m. (Tr. 35</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">; Ex. L at 1</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.) </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-align:center; "><span style="font-weight:bold; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">DISCUSSION</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish a violation of a specific OSHA standard, the Secretary must show by a preponderance of the evidence that:</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(1) the cited standard applies; (2) the terms of the standard were violated; (3) the employer knew, or with the exercise of reasonable diligence could have known, of the violative condition; and (4) one or more employees had access to the cited condition.  </span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Astra Pharm. Prods</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 9 BNA OSHC 2126, 2129 (No. 78-6247, 1981), </span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d in relevant part,</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> 681 F.2d 69 (1st Cir. 1982).</span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Heading1 style_Heading1 " style="margin-left:0cm; text-indent:0cm; ">
				<span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-style:normal; text-transform:uppercase;color:WindowText; padding-right:20px;">I.</span>Item 1<span><span></span>
				</span>–<span>
				</span>Failure to ensure that employees were protected from fall hazards as required by 29 C.F.R.<span>
				</span>§<span><span></span>
				</span>1926.501(b)(1)</p>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Heading1 style_Heading1 style_Heading2 style_Heading2 " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:0cm; ">
				<span style="color:#000000; font-weight:bold; font-style:normal; color:WindowText; padding-right:20px;">A.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Applicability, Violation & Exposure</span></p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Citation 1, Item 1 alleges that Respondent failed to ensure that employees were protected from fall hazards as required by 29 C.F.R. § 1926.501(b)(1). That standard requires fall protection for each employee working at a height of greater than six feet:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Quote style_Quote " style="margin-left:48px; ">Each employee on<span>
					</span>a<span>
					</span>walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface)<span>
					</span>with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level<span>
					</span>shall be protected from falling<span>
					</span>by the use of<span><span></span>
					</span>guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p>The<span><span></span>
					</span>parties<span>
					</span>do not dispute the applicability of the cited standard or its violation. Specifically, they stipulated that<span>
					</span>the<span><span></span>
					</span>roof upon which Respondent’s employees were working on<span>
					</span>August 29, 2017 was more than six feet above a lower level<span><span></span>
					</span>and that employees were<span>
					</span>not properly using fall protection.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref7" href="#ftn7">6</a></span> (Jt. Pre-Hr’g at<span>
					</span>¶<span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">¶</span><span><span></span>
					</span>10-11; Exs. 5, 7, 10; Sec’y<span><span></span>
					</span>Reply<span>
					</span>Br. at 2, n. 1.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">These stipulations are consistent with the<span>
					</span>exhibits,<span>
					</span>photographic evidence and the testimony of the witnesses. The CO described seeing All Wall employees install metal trusses on the building’s roof<span><span></span>
					</span>without wearing fall protection. (Tr. 22, 157; Ex. 4.) The work began with a stack of roof trusses<span>
					</span>on top of a<span>
					</span>truck at ground level. (Tr. 154.) The foreman prepared and rigged the trusses before the President of All Wall<span>
					</span>lifted<span><span></span>
					</span>them<span>
					</span>to the roof level with a forklift. (Jt. Pre-Hr’g<span><span></span>
					</span>at<span><span></span>
					</span>¶<span>
					</span>9; Tr. 154-55.) As each truss was lifted, the foreman helped guide it and keep it straight by holding a tag line attached to it. (Tr. 170-71.) An<span>
					</span>employee<span>
					</span>on the roof<span>
					</span>would then come to the<span>
					</span>immediate<span>
					</span>edge of the roof to receive the truss. (Tr. 22-25, 166; Ex. 4 at<span>
					</span>“B” and “C”.) From there, the employees would walk the truss to the correct place before fastening it to the roof. (Tr. 22-24, 158, 161-62, 166, 175; Ex. 4.)<span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">There was no guardrail or safety net system in place but there was evidence of equipment for a personal fall arrest system. (Tr. 30, 203.) Personal fall arrest systems require employees to<span>
					</span>wear a harness and then attach the harness to anchor points. (Tr. 146-47.) The employees on the roof assisting with the truss installation process<span>
					</span>were wearing<span>
					</span>harnesses. (Tr. 30, 72; Ex. 10.) However, the CO observed that<span>
					</span>at least two<span><span></span>
					</span>were not tied off to anything, even when they came directly to the roof’s edge to receive a truss. (Tr. 27-30, 75; Exs. 5, 7, 10.)<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>The CO also testified that he saw two unconnected employees wearing orange shirts on the roof walking through the trusses toward the north side of the building over the course of an estimated couple of minutes.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref8" href="#ftn8">7</a></span> (Tr. 75). Besides the CO’s observations,<span>
					</span>Humberto Vixtha admitted that there were times that he “probably did” not hook himself back up when he came back to set another truss to the roof’s edge, which could be for a matter of minutes.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref9" href="#ftn9">8</a></span> He acknowledged that there “probably” was a time when he forgot to attach his lanyard to the fall protection system.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref10" href="#ftn10">9</a></span> (Tr. 210-11; Resp’t Br. at 5-6.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:17.6px; margin-left:-.333px; text-indent:1.27cm; ">The same evidence of the standard’s violation also shows that<span>
					</span>at least two<span>
					</span>All Wall<span>
					</span>employees, including Messrs. Humberto Vixtha and Roman Vixtha,<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref11" href="#ftn11">10</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span>were exposed to fall hazards. Respondent does not contest this.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref12" href="#ftn12">11</a></span> (Resp’t Br. at 9-12; Exs.<span>
					</span>5, 7,<span>
					</span>10,<span><span></span>
					</span>L at 10; Tr. 66-69.) Under Commission precedent,<span>
					</span>the Secretary may show either actual exposure or that it was reasonably<span>
					</span>foreseeable employees would have access to the violative condition. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Kaspar Wire Works</span>, 18 BNA OSHC 2178, 2194-95 (No. 90-2775, 2000) (finding exposure when unguarded equipment was available for use). The CO<span>
					</span>saw two employees come to the edge of the roof to receive<span>
					</span>a<span><span></span>
					</span>truss the President was<span>
					</span>lifting up<span><span></span>
					</span>to them<span>
					</span>without being tied off or using any other form of fall protection. (Tr. 27-30;<span><span></span>
					</span>Exs. 5, 7, 10.) The record also shows that the third employee working on the roof was, at least at times,<span><span></span>
					</span>not attached to the fall protection system. (Tr. 25, 95-96; Exs. 1, 4 at “C”; Jt. Pre-Hr’g at ¶ 11.) Thus, employees were exposed to the cited condition.</p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Heading1 style_Heading1 style_Heading2 style_Heading2 " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:0cm; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:normal; color:WindowText; padding-right:20px;">A.</span>Knowledge</p>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">Having found that the standard applies, was violated,<span><span></span>
					</span>and that employees were exposed to the hazard, we turn to whether<span>
					</span>the Secretary showed Respondent’s<span><span></span>
					</span>actual or constructive knowledge of the cited condition. Two individuals with supervisory responsibility, Messrs. Westcott and<span>
					</span>Kovack,<span><span></span>
					</span>were<span>
					</span>at<span><span></span>
					</span>the<span>
					</span>Worksite when<span>
					</span>the CO observed employees working without fall protection. (Tr.<span>
					</span>34, 137,<span>
					</span>153,<span>
					</span>168.) The President<span>
					</span>was responsible<span>
					</span>for overseeing all work performed by employees. (Jt. Pre-Hr’g at<span><span></span>
					</span>¶<span>
					</span>8; Ex. A at 2.) On the day of the inspection, he was operating a rough terrain forklift and directing the work of raising up and then setting the metal trusses on the roof.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref13" href="#ftn13">12</a></span> (Jt. Pre-Hr’g at<span><span></span>
					</span>¶¶<span><span></span>
					</span>5,<span>
					</span>7-9; Tr. 154-63.) While he generally stayed in the vehicle, he did get out<span>
					</span>to assist<span><span></span>
					</span>Foreman<span><span></span>
					</span>Kovack<span>
					</span>a few times. (Tr. 173-74, 190.) The foreman<span><span></span>
					</span>assisted with rigging the trusses and helped<span><span></span>
					</span>guide the<span><span></span>
					</span>trusses<span>
					</span>to the<span>
					</span>employees on the<span>
					</span>roof. (Tr.<span>
					</span>171.) As noted above, the work required<span>
					</span>at least one<span>
					</span>employee<span><span></span>
					</span>on the roof<span><span></span>
					</span>to come to the edge of the roof to receive each truss. (Tr. 36-37, 160-61, 207; Exs. 10, 12.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">A foreman or supervisor’s actual or constructive knowledge of a violative condition satisfies the Secretary’s burden. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See e.g., N&N Contractors, Inc.</span>, 18 BNA OSHC 2121, 2123 (No. 96-0606,<span><span></span>
					</span>2000) (citation omitted), <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span>, 255 F.3d 122 (4th<span>
					</span>Cir. 2001). Knowledge may be established where the violative condition is in a conspicuous location or otherwise readily observable. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Kokosing Constr., Co.,<span>
						</span></span>17 BNA OSHC 1869, 1871 (No. 92-2596, 1996);<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">accord</span><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Kilby & Gannon Constr. Servs., LLC</span>, 24 BNA OSHC 1212, 1225 (No. 10-0755, 2012) (O.S.H.R.C.A.L.J.). In addition, an employer can be charged with constructive knowledge when it fails to engage in reasonable diligence to identify violative conditions. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Hamilton Fixture</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 16 BNA OSHC 1073, 1089, 1094, 1098 (No. 88-1720, 1993) (finding constructive knowledge because<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">physical condition was readily observable if someone familiar with the site looked),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 28 F.3d 1213<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(6th Cir. 1994)</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; ">(unpublished).</span> An employer has an obligation to inspect the workplace for hazards and this obligation requires “a careful and critical examination.” <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Hamilton Fixture</span>, 16 BNA OSHC at 1087,<span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">quoting</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Austin Commercial v. OSHRC</span>, 610 F.2d 200, 202 (5th Cir. 1979). </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">With respect to the visibility of the violative condition at the Worksite, the roof was approximately 16 feet, 8 inches high. (Tr.<span>
					</span>36, 83.) Both supervisors<span><span></span>
					</span>knew the employees were on the roof, knew they had to come to<span>
					</span>the roof’s<span>
					</span>edge to receive each truss, and both were at times capable of seeing<span>
					</span>the employees<span>
					</span>near<span><span></span>
					</span>the edge. Mr. Westcott admitted that he could see one of his employees “when they were out towards the edge at any time.” (Tr. 35-36, 79, 97-99, 161-63, 166, 174-75; Exs.<span>
					</span>4-5, 7-10.) At least during part of the process,<span>
					</span>a<span><span></span>
					</span>supervisor<span><span></span>
					</span>faced the employees<span>
					</span>directly. (Tr.<span>
					</span>157,<span>
					</span>161, 190.) In addition, the supervisors on the ground communicated with the workers on the roof by using hand signals. (Tr.<span>
					</span>162,<span>
					</span>166, 207.) An<span><span></span>
					</span>employee<span><span></span>
					</span>acknowledged that the President could see the<span>
					</span>workers<span><span></span>
					</span>on the roof<span><span></span>
					</span>and the President agreed<span><span></span>
					</span>this was the case. (Tr.<span>
					</span>78, 163,<span>
					</span>207.) The CO testified that All Wall employees were working<span>
					</span>on the roof with their lanyards unconnected to their fall protection harnesses<span>
					</span>or with no fall protection at all<span>
					</span>in plain view of Mr. Wescott. (Tr. 35-36, 39, 77-79, 97-99, 160-63. 174-75; Exs. 10, 12; Sec’y Br. at 5-6.) Thus, there<span>
					</span>should be<span><span></span>
					</span>no debate that the supervisors could see the workers on the roof. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Kokosing,<span>
						</span></span>17 BNA OSHC at 1871;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Simplex Time Recorder Co. v. Brock</span>, 766 F.2d 575, 589 (D.C. Cir. 1985) (finding<span>
					</span>knowledge where the violations cited were “based on physical conditions and on practices ... readily apparent to anyone who looked and indisputably should have been known to management.”).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">Still, the President argued that he did not know the employees were not using fall protection. He said he did not “recall” seeing any of his employees unconnected on the roof. (Tr.<span>
					</span>78,<span>
					</span>164-65,<span>
					</span>186.) He explained how during parts of the<span>
					</span>task,<span><span></span>
					</span>he was not focused on the employees on the roof. He said, much of the time,<span>
					</span>he was “not paying attention” to his employees on the roof, or “what they’re doing up there.” (Tr. 160.) He does not explain how he could understand the hand signals,<span><span></span>
					</span>but not see that their harnesses were unattached. (Tr. 162.) Nor does he explain why the foreman could not recognize that employees’ harnesses were not attached to the fall protection system.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">At best, the President’s testimony can be understood as indicating that he did not realize the employees were not tied off. The Secretary does not allege that Respondent willfully ignored the fall protection requirements. Rather, he argues that Respondent had knowledge of the violative condition because it was in plain view of the supervisors. (Tr. 36;<span>
					</span>Sec’y Br. at 11-12.) Further,<span>
					</span>even if for some reason the President and foreman’s views were obscured,<span>
					</span>the Secretary asserts that<span>
					</span>Respondent still should be charged with constructive knowledge because it failed to engage in reasonable diligence.<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>(Sec’y Br. at 7-9, 12-13.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">The<span>
					</span>Court<span><span></span>
					</span>agrees. No supervisor was assigned to work with employees on the roof and the supervisors on the ground did not take reasonable steps to monitor safety. (Tr. 153-54, 160-64.) The President even argued that he was not<span><span></span>
					</span>directing<span>
					</span>his employees work. (Tr.<span>
					</span>165.) He performed one part of the task and expected them to do the next part. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id. </span>On the day of the inspection, he did not instruct them to use the fall protection and did not check for its use himself or by asking someone else to do so. (Tr. 163-64, 215.) Nor did he notice when employees failed to attach their harnesses. (Tr. 164-65.) And he acknowledged that neither he nor the foreman would check in the middle of the day to make sure employees were using fall protection. (Tr. 178.)<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>Humberto Vixtha<span><span></span>
					</span>concurred that no supervisor came to the roof or checked on the fall protection on the day of the inspection. (Tr. 214-15.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The President was working directly with the employees on the roof and yet failed to realize they were not using fall protection. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 164-65.) </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">He did not undertake “a careful and critical examination” of the worksite. </span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Hamilton Fixture</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 16 BNA OSHC at 1087. Reasonable diligence requires an effective overall safety program, including the implementation of work rules and training programs, adequate supervision of employees,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">anticipation of potential hazards, and measures taken to prevent the occurrence of violations.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref14" href="#ftn14">13</a></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pride Oil Well Serv.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 15 BNA OSHC 1809, 1814 (No. 87-692, 1992).</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; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span>Respondent had<span>
					</span>some<span>
					</span>elements of a safety program—fall<span>
					</span>protection equipment was present<span><span></span>
					</span>and there was some<span><span></span>
					</span>training.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref15" href="#ftn15">14</a></span> (Tr.<span>
					</span>128-29,<span>
					</span>178, 181-82; Exs. A-C.) However,<span>
					</span>the steps it took to investigate for violative conditions and discipline employees for infractions was inadequate.<span><span></span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>The President acknowledged<span><span></span>
					</span>that he did not go out specifically to look for<span>
					</span>safety violations.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref16" href="#ftn16">15</a></span> (Tr. 178, 181-82.) Employees worked directly with two supervisors<span>
					</span>in full view of them<span>
					</span>without attaching their harnesses, even when the work required them to come directly to the roof’s edge. (Tr.<span>
					</span>78,<span>
					</span>163-65; Ex. 4.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">As for discipline, Respondent’s safety program directed management to “document all violations that are observed and discipline any employee disregarding [the safety policy].” (Ex. A at 3, 51-52.) First-time verbal warnings were to<span>
					</span>be documented<span><span></span>
					</span>in a log with subsequent violations documented using a specific form. (Ex. A at 51.) Although the President indicated he repeatedly verbally reprimanded employees, including those at the Worksite at the time of the inspection<span><span></span>
					</span>for not being properly connected, he never documented any safety violations and was unaware of any other manager doing so.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref17" href="#ftn17">16</a></span> (Tr.<span>
					</span>136-37, 140,<span>
					</span>176-78, 181-83, 211.) He did not know if the company had the Safety Violation Form referenced in<span>
					</span>its<span><span></span>
					</span>safety<span>
					</span>manual<span><span></span>
					</span>and the record lacks any evidence of safety issues being documented. (Tr.<span>
					</span>177,<span>
					</span>182-84; Ex. A at 51-52.) When shown All<span>
					</span>Wall’s “Safety Violation Form” in the courtroom, Mr. Westcott testified that “it’s probably the first time I’ve seen it.”<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref18" href="#ftn18">17</a></span> (Tr. 183; Ex. A at 52.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">Consistent with this,<span>
					</span>Humberto Vixtha<span><span></span>
					</span>testified that although employees sometimes forgot to use safety equipment, such as fall protection, he never heard of any employee receiving any form of discipline beyond a verbal instruction or reprimand. (Tr. 215-16.)<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">Although neither supervisor admitted to seeing employees on the roof work without fall protection, both were<span>
					</span>in<span>
					</span>a<span>
					</span>position<span><span></span>
					</span>to observe the violative condition.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref19" href="#ftn19">18</a></span>
					<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Simplex,</span><span><span></span>
					</span>766 F.2d at<span><span></span>
					</span>589 (knowledge established when physical condition was readily apparent). In addition, either could have discovered the violation if he had engaged in reasonable diligence. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Hamilton Fixture</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 16 BNA OSHC at 1087</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span>Respondent failed to fully implement and enforce its safety program. The Secretary met his burden of establishing knowledge of the violative condition. <span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Heading1 style_Heading1 style_Heading2 style_Heading2 " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:0cm; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:normal; color:WindowText; padding-right:20px;">A.</span>Affirmative Defense of<span>
				</span>Unpreventable Employee Misconduct</p>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">Respondent alleges that the failure to use fall protection was the result of unpreventable employee misconduct (UEM). (Resp’t Br. at 13-14.) The Secretary argues that this affirmative defense is time-barred under Commission Rule 207(b), 29 C.F.R.<span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">§</span><span><span></span>
					</span>2200.207(b), because Respondent failed to raise it during the pre-hearing conference and failed to present evidence of extraordinary circumstances.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref20" href="#ftn20">19</a></span> (Sec’y Br. at 15.) Under the Commission rules for simplified proceedings, “[e]xcept under extraordinary circumstances, any affirmative defenses not raised at<span>
					</span>the pre-hearing conference may not be raised later.”<span>
					</span>29 C.F.R. § 2200.207(b);<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Fed. Constr. Grp.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 24<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">BNA<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSHC</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>1</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">602, 1604 (No. 12-0097, 2012)</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">O.S.H.R.C.A.L.J.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">) (barring late affirmative defense</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span>. All Wall did not raise any affirmative defenses during the February 1, 2018 pre-hearing conference and has not presented evidence of extraordinary circumstances.<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>For these reasons alone, Respondent’s unpreventable employee misconduct affirmative defense to both<span>
					</span>citation<span>
					</span>Items<span><span></span>
					</span>1 and 2<span><span></span>
					</span>is<span>
					</span>rejected as untimely raised.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">Even if the<span>
					</span>affirmative<span>
					</span>defense had been<span>
					</span>timely<span>
					</span>and properly<span>
					</span>raised, the<span>
					</span>Court<span><span></span>
					</span>finds that Respondent failed to meet its burden for the same reasons a finding of constructive of knowledge is appropriate. To establish the defense, Respondent need to show that:<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>(1) it has an applicable work rule, (2) it adequately communicated the work rule, (3) it has taken sufficient steps to discover violations, and (4) it has effectively enforced the rules when violations have been discovered. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Manganas Painting Co.</span>, 21 BNA OSHC 1964,<span>
					</span>1967 (No. 94-0588, 2007). </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">As for the first two elements of the UEM defense, Respondent had<span>
					</span>a written safety<span>
					</span>manual<span>
					</span>that addressed the duty to have, and train for,<span><span></span>
					</span>fall protection. There was<span><span></span>
					</span>fall protection equipment at the Worksite<span><span></span>
					</span>provided by All Wall. Mr. Westcott testified that his employees had to wear personal protective gear whenever working at levels above six feet. (Tr.<span>
					</span>64-65,<span>
					</span>147,<span>
					</span>150,<span>
					</span>163, 166-67, 203; Exs. A<span><span></span>
					</span>at<span>
					</span>28-30, L at 12.) Mr. Westcott testified that toolbox talks about fall protection and the use of personal fall arrest systems have been done. The President<span>
					</span>also<span>
					</span>indicated that<span>
					</span>he<span><span></span>
					</span>instructed employees to use it in the past<span><span></span>
					</span>but did<span><span></span>
					</span>not give any specific instructions regarding<span>
					</span>its use<span>
					</span>on the day of the inspection. (Tr.<span>
					</span>151-52,<span>
					</span>163.) One of the employees who was working on the roof, Humberto Vixtha,<span><span></span>
					</span>testified that he was trained to use fall protection and explained that<span>
					</span>“mostly you have to have it all the time.”<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref21" href="#ftn21">20</a></span> (Tr. 198, 202.) It is not clear what training the other employees received. Nor is it clear that the instructions in<span>
					</span>the<span>
					</span>written<span>
					</span>safety<span>
					</span>manual<span><span></span>
					</span>about<span><span></span>
					</span>fall protection<span><span></span>
					</span>were communicated to all employees. (Ex. A at 29.) The President indicated that employees were given a more general safety<span>
					</span>document<span><span></span>
					</span>rather than the safety manual itself. (Tr. 129.) Respondent did not explain what information that document had about<span>
					</span>fall protection. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Propellex Corp.</span>, 18 BNA OSHC 1677, 1682-83<span><span></span>
					</span>(No. 96-0265, 1999) (rejecting UEM defense when there was<span>
					</span>insufficient evidence of work rule being communicated to all employees). </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">Even<span>
					</span>assuming that<span><span></span>
					</span>a work rule was effectively communicated to all employees,<span>
					</span>the record lacks<span>
					</span>sufficient<span>
					</span>support for the other two elements of the defense. Respondent did not go out to inspect for safety violations—he only addressed them if he happened to come across them. (Tr. 178, 182, 215.) When<span>
					</span>infractions<span>
					</span>were found,<span>
					</span>there were no<span>
					</span>consequences beyond verbal statements. (Tr. 215-17.) It is a “rare case” where verbal reprimands alone constitute effective enforcement.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Gem Indus., Inc.,<span>
						</span></span>17 BNA OSHC 1861, 1864 (No. 93-1122, 1996)<span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(rejecting<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">UEM<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">defense whe</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>three employees were not using fall protection),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 149 F.3d 1183 (6th Cir. 1998) (unpublished). </span>Here,<span>
					</span>two<span><span></span>
					</span>employees, Messrs. Humberto and Roman Vixtha,<span><span></span>
					</span>failed to attach themselves to fall protection even though the task at hand required them to go the<span>
					</span>roof’s<span>
					</span>edge and work directly with two supervisors<span><span></span>
					</span>on the ground. (Tr. 65, 194;<span>
					</span>Exs. 4-5, 7, 10; Sec’y Br. at 5.) This was not a momentary lapse of a single employee that was missed by an otherwise diligent supervisor. The Secretary showed that two employees failed to use fall protection for at least several minutes and were not corrected by either their co-workers or supervisors. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Gem,<span>
						</span></span>17<span>
					</span>BNA OSHC at 1865;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Fl</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">a.</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Gas Contractors, Inc.,<span>
						</span></span>27 BNA OSHC 1799, 1809 (No. 14-0948, 2019)<span><span></span>
					</span>(concluding that Respondent’s evidence of enforcement was insufficient).<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">Respondent failed to show that the violation was the result of UEM, so, Item 1 of Citation 1 is affirmed.</p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Heading1 style_Heading1 style_Heading2 style_Heading2 " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:0cm; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:normal; color:WindowText; padding-right:20px;">A.</span>Characterization and Penalty</p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Respondent does not challenge that<span>
					</span>violation being<span>
					</span>characterized<span><span></span>
					</span>as serious. A violation is “serious” “if there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from” the cited conditions. 29 U.S.C. § 666(k). “This does not mean that the occurrence of an accident must be a substantially probable result of the violative condition but, rather, that a serious injury is the likely result if an accident does occur.” <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ConAgra Flour Milling Co.</span>, 15 BNA OSHC 1817, 1824 (No. 88-2572, 1992). The hazard was a potential fall of approximately 16 feet 8 inches, for which there would be a substantial probability of death or serious injury.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref22" href="#ftn22">21</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 36-38.) So, the violation was serious. </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; ">As for the penalty amount,<span>
					</span>Section 17(j) of the Act requires the Commission to give due consideration to four criteria in assessing penalties:<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>the size of the employer’s business, the gravity of the violation, the employer’s good faith, and its prior history of violations.<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Compass Envtl., Inc</span>., 23 BNA OSHC 1132, 1137 (No. 06-1036, 2010),<span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span>, 664 F.3d 1164 (10th Cir. 2011).<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>When the Citation was issued, the maximum statutory penalty for a serious citation was $12,675. Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Annual Adjustments for 2017,<span>
					</span>82 Fed.<span>
					</span>Reg.<span><span></span>
					</span>5373 (Jan. 13, 2017)<span><span></span>
					</span>(to be codified at 29 C.F.R. Part 1903). The Secretary proposes<span><span></span>
					</span>less than the<span>
					</span>maximum,<span>
					</span>$3,622,<span><span></span>
					</span>to account for the gravity of the violation and Respondent’s size. (Tr. 9, 36-38.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; ">According to the CO, OSHA evaluated both the severity of harm that could come to employees and the probability of any injury for the failure to use fall protection.<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>It determined that the severity was high because<span>
					</span>a fall from<span>
					</span>the height of where the employees were working would result in severe injury or death. However, the probability of a fall was determined to be “lesser instead of greater” because employees were not continuously at the edge of the roof. As for size, OSHA determined that Respondent was entitled to a 60% reduction<span><span></span>
					</span>to account for the low number of employees it had.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref23" href="#ftn23">22</a></span> Neither an increase nor a decrease was given for Respondent’s history, as it had not received any high gravity serious citations in the past five years.<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>Nor were adjustments made<span>
					</span>on the basis of<span><span></span>
					</span>good faith. (Tr. 36-38; Ex. L at 10.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Respondent does not make any specific challenges to the penalty amount. The<span>
					</span>Court<span><span></span>
					</span>agrees with the Secretary’s proposal. Employees<span>
					</span>did not<span>
					</span>attach themselves to<span>
					</span>the<span>
					</span>fall protection system<span><span></span>
					</span>even when the work required them to come to the roof edge to receive materials directly from two supervisors. (Tr.<span>
					</span>36-37; Ex. 4.) While Respondent had a safety program, it failed to effectively inspect the Worksite and enforce the requirement to use fall protection. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>63,<span>
					</span>65,<span>
					</span>128, 178, 181-82.) This violation’s<span>
					</span>gravity<span>
					</span>outweighs the evidence of Respondent’s post-inspection efforts at additional training<span><span></span>
					</span>on the use of fall protection. (Tr.<span>
					</span>36, 138-39.)<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">J. A. Jones Constr. Co</span>., 15 BNA OSHC 2201, 2213-14 (No. 87-2059, 1993) (when weighing the penalty factors, the gravity of the violation is generally accorded greater weight). The Secretary’s proposal accounts for the<span>
					</span>violation’s gravity and Respondent’s size. Additional adjustments for history and good faith are not warranted. Accordingly, a penalty of $3,622 is appropriate.</p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Heading1 style_Heading1 " style="margin-left:0cm; text-indent:0cm; ">
				<span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; font-style:normal; text-transform:uppercase;color:WindowText; padding-right:20px;">I.</span>Item 2 -<span>
				</span>Failure to<span>
				</span>appropriately extend ladder<span>
				</span>as required by 29 C.F.R.<span>
				</span>§ 1926.1053(b)(1)</p>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Heading1 style_Heading1 style_Heading2 style_Heading2 " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:0cm; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:normal; color:WindowText; padding-right:20px;">A.</span>Applicability, Violation & Exposure</p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:0cm; ">
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Citation<span>
					</span>1, Item 2, alleges that<span>
					</span>a ladder used for access to the roof of the worksite was not extended at least 3 feet above<span>
					</span>the upper landing surface, as 29 C.F.R.<span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">§</span> 1926.1053 (b)(1)<span><span></span>
					</span>requires.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref24" href="#ftn24">23</a></span> There is no dispute as to the applicability of the cited standard or its violation. (Tr. 14, 26-27; Exs.<span><span></span>
					</span>3-4.) The parties stipulated that the ladder at issue was not sufficiently extended:</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Quote style_Quote " style="margin-left:48px; ">On August 29, 2017, at least at the time when observed and photographed by OSHA, the ladder at issue in Citation 1, Item 2, located at the worksite, was extended less than 3 feet above the upper landing surface.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p>(Jt. Pre-Hr’g at<span>
					</span>¶ 12; Tr. 142.) There was only one ladder on the<span>
					</span>site for access to the roof.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref25" href="#ftn25">24</a></span> (Tr. 32, 86.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">As for exposure,<span>
					</span>the President acknowledged that<span>
					</span>Messrs. Humberto and Roman Vixtha<span><span></span>
					</span>used the ladder during the inspection.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref26" href="#ftn26">25</a></span> Initially, Mr. Westcott testified that he thought he told them to use the ladder, but later said he “just told them to come down.” (Tr. 149, 185-87.) In addition, the ladder was available for use and there was no work rule or other hindrance preventing All Wall employees from using it. (Tr. 175-76, 218.) It was located on the same side of the building where the All Wall employees were working.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref27" href="#ftn27">26</a></span> (Tr. 25-27, 185-86; Exs. 4 at “D,” 11.) The photograph at exhibit 11 shows<span>
					</span>Mulvey Construction Superintendent<span>
					</span>Bruce<span>
					</span>Neamon exiting the roof on the ladder<span><span></span>
					</span>in an un-extended position.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref28" href="#ftn28">27</a></span> (Tr. 31-32; Ex. 11.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">In<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Phoenix Roofing</span>, 17 BNA OSHC 1076 (No. 90-2148, 1995), the work activities did not require employees to come in direct contact with a violative condition. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span>at 1079,<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d,<span>
						</span></span>79 F.3d 1146 (5<span style="position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">th</span><span><span></span>
					</span>Cir. 1996). Still, the<span>
					</span>Commission found that exposure was reasonably<span><span></span>
					</span>predictable because the roofing activities the employees were engaged in brought them within twelve feet of a violative condition.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref29" href="#ftn29">28</a></span>
					<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id</span>. Employee access is established where the Secretary shows<span>
					</span>either<span><span></span>
					</span>actual exposure, or “that it was reasonably foreseeable that [employees] would have access to the<span>
					</span>violative conditions.” <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Miniature Nut and Screw Corp.</span>, 17 BNA OSHC 1557, 1560 (No. 93-2535 1996);<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">accord Kaspar Wire Works</span>, 18 BNA OSHC<span>
					</span>at<span><span></span>
					</span>2195;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">accord</span><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Kilby & Gannon Constr. Servs.</span>, 24 BNA OSHC 1212, 1225 (No. 10-0755, 2012) (O.S.H.R.C.A.L.J.). In the present matter, no part of<span><span></span>
					</span>the<span><span></span>
					</span>roof was off-limits. (Tr.<span>
					</span>175-76.) It was reasonably foreseeable<span>
					</span>that All Wall employees<span>
					</span>could and<span>
					</span>would use the ladder in an un-extended position to access and exit the roof. The Court finds that Messrs.<span>
					</span>Humberto<span><span></span>
					</span>and Roman Vixtha and Juarez had access to the ladder while it was in an un-extended position and were exposed to the cited condition.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p>
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Respondent argues that there was also a boom<span><span></span>
					</span>lift on the site and that the men could use fall protection when stepping onto the ladder. (Tr. 185, 204-5.) However, these arguments go to the gravity of the offense, not whether the<span>
					</span>ladder was improperly<span>
					</span>configured<span><span></span>
					</span>and available for the use by employees. Unlike the boom<span><span></span>
					</span>lifts, the ladder was the only way up and down from the north or west sides of<span>
					</span>the<span>
					</span>building, nearest to where the All Wall employees were working.<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 204; Ex. 4.) The President did not consider moving the boom lift when the CO asked to speak with the employees working on the roof<span><span></span>
					</span>and the employees used the ladder instead.<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr.<span>
					</span>34,<span>
					</span>149,<span>
					</span>186-88, 212, 219.) So, the Secretary established that the cited standard applied, was violated,<span><span></span>
					</span>and that<span>
					</span>at least three<span>
					</span>employees, including Messrs. Humberto and Roman Vixtha<span><span></span>
					</span>and Mr. Juarez, were exposed to<span>
					</span>the cited hazard. (Ex. L at 13-14.)</p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Heading1 style_Heading1 style_Heading2 style_Heading2 " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:0cm; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:normal; color:WindowText; padding-right:20px;">A.</span>Knowledge</p>
			<div>
				<p>
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Respondent alleges it lacked<span>
					</span>actual or constructive knowledge of the violative condition. The Secretary argues that the ladder was in plain view<span>
					</span>and even if Respondent lacked actual knowledge, it could have ascertained the violative condition if it engaged in reasonable diligence. (Sec’y Br. at 14-15.) Indeed, the CO saw that the ladder was not properly extended<span>
					</span>from across the street. (Tr.<span>
					</span>26-27, 37; Exs.<span>
					</span>3-4<span><span></span>
					</span>at “D”.) He also testified that the ladder that was leaning on<span>
					</span>the west wall was in plain view of Mr. Westcott while he was operating a lift and maneuvering trusses;<span>
					</span>also<span><span></span>
					</span>on the west side of the building. (Tr. 37,<span><span></span>
					</span>78; Ex. 4.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p>
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As with Item<span><span></span>
					</span>1,<span>
					</span>Respondent does not admit that a supervisor saw the ladder and knew that it was not properly extended. However, establishing that is not the Secretary’s burden.<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Phoenix Roofing</span>, 17 BNA OSHC<span>
					</span>at<span><span></span>
					</span>1079<span><span></span>
					</span>(finding that the<span>
					</span>Secretary<span><span></span>
					</span>did not have to show that “the employer understood or acknowledged that the physical conditions were actually hazardous”). The ladder was in plain view and capable of being discovered. (Tr.<span>
					</span>25-27;<span>
					</span>Exs. 3, 4 at “D”.) Both the violative condition (the improperly<span>
					</span>configured<span><span></span>
					</span>ladder) and the employees were in a conspicuous location. (Exs. 3-<span><span></span>
					</span>4.) And<span>
					</span>the President and the foreman were working<span>
					</span>directly with the employees on the roof near<span>
					</span>the<span>
					</span>ladder. (Tr.<span>
					</span>22-25, 27-28, 30, 36; Exs.<span>
					</span>3-5, 7, 10.) Mr. Westcott admitted that there was nothing stopping his employees from using the ladder<span><span></span>
					</span>and he said that he was “not sure if they were using it or not, ....” (Tr. 176.) Further,<span>
					</span>as discussed above,<span>
					</span>Respondent did not engage in safety inspections and took insufficient steps to address violations supervisors happened to discover. (Tr.<span>
					</span>176,<span>
					</span>182.) Thus, the<span>
					</span>record shows that the Secretary established knowledge of the violative condition. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Simplex</span>, 766 F.2d<span>
					</span>at<span><span></span>
					</span>589<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">;<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Clarence M. Jones</span>, 11 BNA OSHC 1529, 1531<span><span></span>
					</span>(No. 77-3676, 1983)<span>
					</span>(finding knowledge when ladders were in plain view and a foreman was present at the worksite);<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A.L. Baumgartner Constr. Inc.,<span>
						</span></span>16 BNA OSHC 1995, 1998 (No. 92-1022, 1994) (obviousness of the condition sufficient for constructive knowledge).</p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Heading1 style_Heading1 style_Heading2 style_Heading2 " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:0cm; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:normal; color:WindowText; padding-right:20px;">A.</span>Affirmative Defense of UEM</p>
			<div>
				<p>
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As with Item 1,<span>
					</span>Respondent also alleges that<span>
					</span>the violation<span>
					</span>of 29 C.F.R.<span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">§</span> 1926.1053 (b)(1)<span><span></span>
					</span>was the result of UEM.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref30" href="#ftn30">29</a></span> (Resp’t Br. at 13-14.) It<span>
					</span>argues that it<span><span></span>
					</span>had a safety<span>
					</span>manual<span>
					</span>which<span><span></span>
					</span>addressed the use of ladders<span><span></span>
					</span>and<span>
					</span>provided training on the topic. (Resp’t Br. at 13-14; Exs. A-D,<span><span></span>
					</span>G,<span>
					</span>J; Tr.<span>
					</span>151,<span>
					</span>198-99.) Even if the affirmative defense had been timely and properly raised to Item 2, the Court finds that Respondent failed to meet its burden for the reasons stated below.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p>
					<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>No specific instructions were given about ladders at this<span>
					</span>Worksite. (Tr. 218.) However,<span>
					</span>Messrs. Humberto Vixtha and Roman Vixtha<span><span></span>
					</span>attended a toolbox talk<span><span></span>
					</span>on<span>
					</span>portable ladder safety<span><span></span>
					</span>given by a<span>
					</span>different<span>
					</span>foreman<span>
					</span>at another job site<span>
					</span>on April 25, 2017,<span>
					</span>a few months before the inspection. (Tr.<span>
					</span>130-31,<span>
					</span>135-36,<span>
					</span>153,<span>
					</span>198-99; Ex. D.) On the same day<span><span></span>
					</span>at the other jobsite, these<span>
					</span>two employees<span>
					</span>also<span>
					</span>attended<span>
					</span>a<span>
					</span>toolbox talk on the “OSHA pocket guide.”<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref31" href="#ftn31">30</a></span> (Tr. 136, 199; Ex. E.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p>Mr. Westcott also testified that Messrs.<span>
					</span>Humberto and Roman Vixtha received training on fall protection, including ladders and roof safety, on May 10, 2017 at another job site. (Tr. 133-35; Exs. B-C.) The one employee<span>
					</span>who testified<span>
					</span>did not<span>
					</span>detail<span>
					</span>any other instructions he had been given<span><span></span>
					</span>about<span>
					</span>ladders,<span><span></span>
					</span>but<span>
					</span>he<span>
					</span>recognized that the ladder at the Worksite was not set up properly. (Tr. 213;<span>
					</span>Ex. 11.) It is unclear whether the two employees who did not attend the toolbox talks<span>
					</span>received<span>
					</span>training or instruction about portable ladders.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span><span></span>
					</span>The President indicated that<span>
					</span>Foreman<span><span></span>
					</span>Kovack<span><span></span>
					</span>had not completed<span>
					</span>all of<span><span></span>
					</span>the safety classes and was still being trained at the<span><span></span>
					</span>time of the inspection. (Tr. 172.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">Besides the toolbox talks,<span>
					</span>Respondent also cites its written safety<span><span></span>
					</span>manual,<span><span></span>
					</span>which<span>
					</span>explains that ladders should extend three feet above a landing surface. (Tr. 131-32, 144;<span>
					</span>Ex. A<span><span></span>
					</span>at 20.) However, it is unclear how the<span>
					</span>safety<span>
					</span>manual<span>
					</span>was shared with employees, if at all. (Tr. 129.) The President testified that<span>
					</span>employees were given a<span>
					</span>subset of a<span>
					</span>more general<span>
					</span>employee manual that they were expected to read and sign off on. (Tr. 129.) The extent to which<span>
					</span>that<span><span></span>
					</span>subset<span>
					</span>document addressed ladders is unclear.<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 129.) The employee who testified was not asked whether he had ever seen or reviewed the<span>
					</span>safety manual<span>
					</span>that addresses<span>
					</span>the extension of ladders. (Tr. 198-99.) Thus, Respondent failed to establish that<span>
					</span>a specific work-rule on properly extended ladders was conveyed to all employees. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Propellex</span>, 18 BNA OSHC<span>
					</span>at<span><span></span>
					</span>1682<span><span></span>
					</span>(finding insufficient evidence of work rule being communicated to all employees). </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">Beyond the<span>
					</span>issues with<span>
					</span>how<span>
					</span>well Respondent<span><span></span>
					</span>communicated the rule<span>
					</span>to employees,<span>
					</span>is the<span>
					</span>limited investigations<span>
					</span>and lack of discipline<span><span></span>
					</span>when violations of work rules happened<span><span></span>
					</span>to be discovered. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Propellex,<span>
						</span></span>18 BNA OSHC at 1682-83 (concluding that effective implementation of a safety rule<span>
					</span>requires appropriate steps to prevent and discover violations). As discussed above, the President indicated that if he sees something wrong, he addresses it, but did not affirmatively look for violations. (Tr.<span>
					</span>178, 181-82,<span>
					</span>214.) Neither he nor the foreman checked for violations on the day of the inspection. (Tr.<span>
					</span>178,<span><span></span>
					</span>214-15.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">As for discipline, it was always limited to verbal reprimands.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref32" href="#ftn32">31</a></span> (Tr.<span>
					</span>176-78,<span><span></span>
					</span>192-93,<span>
					</span>215-16.) The President<span>
					</span>did not write anything down<span><span></span>
					</span>about discipline for safety rules<span><span></span>
					</span>and<span>
					</span>never fired<span>
					</span>or wrote an employee up for not having fall protection. (Tr.<span>
					</span>176-78.)<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>He suggested that it was possible<span>
					</span>someone<span><span></span>
					</span>else<span><span></span>
					</span>might write down a safety issue, but he did not review the daily reports<span><span></span>
					</span>where this information might have been noted. (Tr. 177.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; ">Respondent did not provide any examples for written discipline for any employee. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Capeway Roofing Sys., Inc</span>., 20 BNA OSHC 1331, 1342-43 (No. 00-1986, 2003) (party would have produced evidence if it had been favorable);<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Jensen Constr. Co</span>., 7 BNA OSHC 1477, 1479 (No. 76-1538, 1979)<span><span></span>
					</span>(employer bears the burden of proving all elements of the defense). Employees were told how violating work rules could lead to injuries but were not told that the employer would take any action for violating safety rules. (Tr. 216-17.) <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Fla. Gas</span>,<span>
					</span>27 BNA OSHC at 1808<span><span></span>
					</span>(giving less weight to unsupported claims of verbal discipline);<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Stark<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Excavating, Inc.,<span>
						</span></span>24 BNA OSHC 2218, 2200 (No. 09-0004, 2014) (consolidated) (defense not established when enforcement evidence was limited to verbal warnings).<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span>Accordingly, Respondent failed to establish that the violation was the result of<span><span></span>
					</span>UEM. </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Heading1 style_Heading1 style_Heading2 style_Heading2 " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:0cm; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:normal; color:WindowText; padding-right:20px;">A.</span>Characterization<span>
				</span>and Penalty</p>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; ">As with Item 1, the hazard at issue for this Item is a fall of approximately 16 feet 8 inches. (Tr.<span>
					</span>37-38.) A fall from such a height would likely result in serious injury or death. Thus, the violation was appropriately characterized as “serious.”<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref33" href="#ftn33">32</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>29 U.S.C. § 666(k)<span><span></span>
					</span>(requiring a<span>
					</span>serious characterization<span><span></span>
					</span>when<span><span></span>
					</span>“there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from” the cited conditions.”).<span><span></span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Turning to the penalty<span>
					</span>amount,<span>
					</span>as discussed in connection with Item 1,<span>
					</span>the Act specifies that the Commission must give due consideration to the violation's gravity, the employer's size,<span>
					</span>history of violation, and good faith.<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>29 U.S.C. § 666(j).<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>These factors need<span>
					</span>not<span>
					</span>be accorded<span><span></span>
					</span>equal weight,<span>
					</span>and<span><span></span>
					</span>gravity is usually the principle factor. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See e.g</span>.,<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Siemens Energy & Automation Inc</span>., 20 BNA OSHC 2196, 2199 (No. 00-0152, 2005). </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Consistent with Item 1, the CO indicated that the severity of an injury<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">resulting from falling off<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the ladder would be the same as<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a fall from the roof</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>because of a lack of fall protection</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. (Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">38.) As for the probability of an injury, he explained that OSHA viewed it as “lesser”</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>because employees use the ladder only a few times a day. </span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Secretary also reduced the penalty<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on the basis<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">f</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent’s small size. </span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> No increases or decreases were given for Respondent’s history and good faith.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref34" href="#ftn34">33</a></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">37-</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">38.)</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Based on these factors, t</span>he Secretary proposes<span><span></span>
					</span>a penalty of $3,622 for Item<span><span></span>
					</span>2. (Tr. 9, 36-38.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Although the<span>
					</span>Court<span><span></span>
					</span>agrees that<span>
					</span>Respondent’s<span>
					</span>history<span>
					</span>does not<span>
					</span>warrant a change in the penalty amount, a further reduction<span>
					</span>to the proposed penalty is merited<span><span></span>
					</span>because of the violation’s gravity<span><span></span>
					</span>and good faith. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Valdak Corp.</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 17 BNA OSHC 1135, 1138 (No. 93-0239, 1995) (“The Act places limits for penalty amounts but places no restrictions on the Commission's authority to raise or lower penalties within those limits”), </span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff'd</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 73 F.3d 1466 (8th Cir. 1996);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Dana Container, Inc.</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 25 BNA OSHC 1776, 1792 (No. 09-1184, 2015) (departing from Secretary’s proposed penalty amount based on the Commission’s assessment of gravity), </span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 847 F.3d 495 (7th Cir. 2017). </span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Assessing<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a violation’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">gravity involves considering:</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(1) the number of employees exposed to the hazard; (2) the duration of exposure; (3) whether any precautions have been taken against injury; (4) the degree of probability that an accident would occur; and (5) the likelihood of injury.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See e.g., Capform, Inc.</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC 1374, 1378 (No. 99-0322, 2001),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff'd</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 34 F. App</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">’</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">x. 152<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(5th Cir. 2002) (unpublished)</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">;<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Ernest F. Donley's Son, Inc</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 1 BNA OSHC 1186</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 1187</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(No. 43, 1973) (viewing gravity as the probability of an accident's occurrence and the extent of exposure).</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The ladder was not the only way to exit or leave the roof—two boom lifts were also present. (Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">144</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 185</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.) </span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Although the ladder was used</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to exit the roof during the inspection</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and after lunch by Humberto Vixtha</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the CO did not see any<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">All Wall employee<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">use the ladder when it was<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in an improperly<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">configured</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>pos</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">i</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tion</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at any time.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref35" href="#ftn35">34</a></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">82,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">86</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 144</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-45, 14</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 213</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.) </span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The employee who testified indicated that the ladder was not used in the morning when employees had to bring tools to the roof. (Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">148,</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>204</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.) </span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Further, t</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he CO believed the<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ladder</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">promptly<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">extended to address the violation</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>after he raised the issue during the inspection</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr.</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>89</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.) </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As to good faith,<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent presented evidence of training</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and instructions about ladders</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">it<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">provided to two employees</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref36" href="#ftn36">35</a></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> (Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">198-99</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">; Exs.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A, D</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">E</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.)<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In addition, after the inspection, Respondent sought out additional training for all employees</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, including a</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n OSHA</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>ten</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hour course</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that would cover ladders and other hazards</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. (Tr. 137</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-3</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">) </span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">After the OSHA inspection, i</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">elected to participate<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">voluntary</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>state site inspection program</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and was following up with recommendations for further training provided through that program</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. (Tr. 13</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8-40</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span>Accordingly, the Court reduces the<span>
					</span>proposed<span>
					</span>penalty<span>
					</span>of $3,622 by $1,622<span>
					</span>to<span>
					</span>a Court assessed penalty of<span>
					</span>$2,000.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_NormalWeb style_NormalWeb " style="background-color:#FFFFFF; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:1px; line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; ">All findings of fact and conclusions of law relevant and necessary to a determination of the contested issues have been made above.<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span><span></span>
					</span>Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a).<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>All proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law inconsistent with this decision are denied.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:.847cm; text-align:center; "><span style="font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">ORDER</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:16px; line-height:.847cm; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Based upon the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is ORDERED that:</span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; ">
				<span style="padding-right:20px;">1.</span>Item 1 of Citation 1 for a serious violation of section 5(a)(2) of the<span>
				</span>OSH<span>
				</span>Act for failure to comply with the standard at 29 C.F.R. § 1926.501(b)(1) is AFFIRMED and a penalty of $3,622<span><span></span>
				</span>is ASSESSED;<span><span></span>
				</span>and</p>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:.847cm; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:.847cm; ">
				<span style="text-decoration:underline ;padding-right:20px;">2.</span>Item 2 of Citation 1 for a serious violation of section 5(a)(2) of the<span>
				</span>OSH<span>
				</span>Act for failure to comply with the standard at 29 C.F.R. § 1926.1053(b)(1) is AFFIRMED and a penalty of<span>
				</span>$2,000<span><span></span>
				</span>is ASSESSED.</p>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:.847cm; margin-left:-19.2px; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">SO</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>ORDERED.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:.847cm; margin-left:-19.2px; text-indent:1.27cm; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:.847cm; margin-left:-19.2px; text-indent:1.27cm; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:336px; "><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">/s/</span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:336px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Honorable Dennis L. Phillips</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; margin-left:336px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">U.S. OSHRC Judge</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Date: </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">April 8, 2019</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Washington, D.C.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:24px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p> </p>
			</div>
			<hr/>"
      <div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn-1" href="#ftnref-1"></a> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn0" href="#ftnref0"></a> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn1" href="#ftnref1"></a> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<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; ">1 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The parties stipulated that:</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Quote style_Quote " style="margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">1. Jurisdiction of this action, OSHRC Docket N</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">o</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">. 17-1697, is conferred upon the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission by section 10(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (84 Stat. 1590, 29 U.S.C.</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">§</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>651,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">et seq</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">.) (the Act).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Quote style_Quote " style="margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">2. The Respondent, All Wall Builders LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of New York and doing business in the State of New York, maintaining its principal office and place of business at 8 Adler Drive, Suite #2, East Syracuse NY 13057, is and at all time hereinafter mentioned was engaged in the business of commercial construction, and related activities.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Quote style_Quote " style="margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">3. The Respondent was and is engaged in business that affects commerce within sections 3(3) and 3(5) of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">Act, and</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is an employer within the meaning of section 3(5) of the Act.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Quote style_Quote " style="margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">4. Some of the materials and supplies used by Respondent during the relevant times originated and/or were s</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">h</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">ipped from outside the State of New York.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">(Jt. Pre-Hr’g at ¶¶ 1-4.)</span>
				</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<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; ">2 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The parties stipulated that: “Respondent performed work at CVS, 95 Beaver Street, Cooperstown NY 13326 (the “Worksite”), on, among other dates, August 29, 2017.” (Jt. Pre-Hr’g at ¶ 6.) The project entailed the construction of a new CVS Pharmacy with All Wall performing metal truss installation, metal framing, and siding portions of the project as a sub-contractor to Mulvey Construction. The start date for the trusses/framing portion of the project was August 28, 2017. (Tr. 145, 152-53; Ex. L, at 4.) CO DeSimone testified that the citations issued to Mulvey Construction as a result of his August 29, 2017 inspection were identical to those issued to All Wall. (Tr. 56-57, 61.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<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; ">3 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The roof was about one hundred feet deep and 85 feet wide. (Tr. 147.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<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; ">4 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>CO DeSimone has worked for OSHA since December 2000. (Tr. 19.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<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; ">5 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Mr. Westcott testified that this was the first job where he worked with Foreman Kovack. Mr. Kovack had not yet “taken all the classes for safety” and Mr. Westcott was still “teaching him at that point.” (Tr. 172-73.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<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; ">6 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The parties’<span><span></span>
					</span>stipulations include:</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Quote style_Quote " style="margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">10.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">On August 29, 2017, the roof at issue in Citation 1, Item 1, located at the worksite was more than 6 feet above a lower level.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Quote style_Quote " style="margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">11.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">On August 29, 201</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">7</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">, at least at the time when observed and photographed by OSHA, Respondent’s employees were working on the roof at issue in Citation 1, Item 1, performing metal truss installation without properly using fall protection.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:16px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">(Jt. Pre</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">-</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">Hr’g at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">¶¶ 10-11.) </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<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; ">7 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Mr. Humberto Vixtha testified that he did not think he needed to be tied off while walking between the trusses<span>
					</span>as long as<span><span></span>
					</span>he was not closer than 6 feet from the roof’s edge. (Tr. 209.) </p>
			</div>
			<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; ">8 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Mr. Westcott testified that picking up a truss and delivering it to the roof took anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes, depending on what was going on down on the ground. (Tr. 163.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<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; ">9 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Absent a legitimate unpreventable employee misconduct defense, which is not present here, a worker forgetting to hook up his lanyard where a supervisor has actual or constructive knowledge of the violation is not a credible defense to the cited standard.<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<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; ">10 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Humberto Vixtha was a carpenter, who also worked on roofs. He worked at All Wall for about five years. Roman Vixtha, Humberto’s brother, was a laborer and carpenter, who also worked on roofs. He worked at All Wall for about two and a half years. (Tr. 126-28, 195-96.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<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; ">11 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The photographs at Exhibits 5 and 7 show All Wall employee Humberto Vixtha wearing an orange shirt atop the roof. (Tr. 185, 194; Exs. 5, 7.) Exhibit 10 shows Messrs. Humberto and Roman Vixtha wearing orange shirts atop the roof. (Tr. 185; Ex. 10.) Mr. Juarez is shown wearing a greenish shirt atop the roof in the photograph at exhibit 4, at “B”. (Tr. 184; Ex. 4.) Mulvey Construction Superintendent Bruce<span>
					</span>Neamon wore a brown shirt at the time of the OSHA inspection. (Tr. 31, 39, 93-94, 100-01; Exs. 1-2, 8-9, 11.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn13" href="#ftnref13"><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>The parties stipulated:</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Quote style_Quote " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">5. Carl Westcott (“Westcott”) is and at all relevant times was the owner and president of Respondent</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Quote style_Quote " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">7. Employees of Respondent performed metal truss installation, metal framing, and siding work at the Worksite on, among other dates, August 29, 2017.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Quote style_Quote " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">8. On August 29, 2017, Westcott was responsible for overseeing the work performed by Respondent at the Worksite.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_Quote style_Quote " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">9. On August 29, 2017, Westcott was, among other things, operating a rough terrain forklift and directing the work of raising and setting metal trusses.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:16px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">(Jt. Pre</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">-</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">Hr’g at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">¶¶ 5, 7-9</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">.)</span><span><span></span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn14" href="#ftnref14"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">13 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>CO DeSimone testified that communication, training and enforcement of All Wall’s Safety and Health Program was inadequate. (Tr. 70-71; Ex. L at 7-8.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn15" href="#ftnref15"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">14 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Messrs. Westcott and Humberto Vixtha testified that fall protection was a subject that would be covered by toolbox talks conducted by foremen. (Tr. 130-31, 197-98; Ex. B.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn16" href="#ftnref16"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">15 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Respondent’s safety program states that:<span><span></span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>“Superintendents will follow-up on inspections performed by Safety or Loss Prevention Personnel to ensure proper corrective actions are taken.” (Ex. A at 3.) However, the President admitted that at the time of the inspection, All Wall did not have any “Safety or Loss Prevention Personnel.” (Tr. 180.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn17" href="#ftnref17"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">16 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Humberto Vixtha testified that Mr. Westcott reprimanded him for not being properly connected at the time of CO DeSimone’s inspection. (Tr. 211-12.) Mr. Westcott also<span>
					</span>did track tardiness and fill out reports regarding lateness. (Tr. 177.) <span><span></span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn18" href="#ftnref18"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">17 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Safety Violation Form states it “is to be completed each time an employee violates a corporate safety rule.” (Ex. A at 52.)<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn19" href="#ftnref19"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">18 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>CO DeSimone told Mr. Westcott during his inspection that he (the CO) had seen Messrs. Humberto and Roman Vixtha disconnected. (Tr. 186-87.)<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn20" href="#ftnref20"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">19 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span><span></span>
					</span>Jt.<span><span></span>
					</span>Pre-Hr’g<span><span></span>
					</span>at<span>
					</span>3, n.<span><span></span>
					</span>1 (Secretary’s objection to All Wall raising this affirmative defense late). While Respondent did not raise the affirmative defense during the February 1, 2018 pre-hearing conference, it did raise it in the Jt. Pre-Hr’g, and counsel noted it during his opening statement to the Court at the hearing. (Jt. Pre-Hr’g at 4-6; Tr. 17.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn21" href="#ftnref21"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">20 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>This employee, along with Roman Vixtha, signed a safety checklist that included the phrase “fall protection” at a different job site a few months before the inspection that lead to the Citation at issue. (Tr. 133-34; Exs. B-C.) The President indicated that the instructions given related at this other jobsite would have covered fall protection, but he himself did not provide the training or knew how long it took. (Tr. 134.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn22" href="#ftnref22"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">21 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The President also indicated that aspects of the work being engaged in on the day of the inspection were “dangerous.” (Tr. 162.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn23" href="#ftnref23"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">22 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The CO testified that All Wall had no more than 25 employees. (Tr. 37.) Mr. Westcott testified that he started All Wall in 2007 and it employs around 15, 16 employees. (Tr. 125-26.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn24" href="#ftnref24"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">23 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>This standard specifies: “where portable ladders were used for access to an upper landing surface and the ladder’s length allows, the ladder side rails did not extend at least 3 feet (.9 m) above the upper landing surface being accessed.” 29 C.F.R.<span>
					</span>§<span><span></span>
					</span>1926.1053 (b)(1). The President admitted to the CO that the ladder could have been extended further and it was adjusted during the OSHA inspection. (Tr. 85-89; Ex. L at 15.) Mr. Westcott testified that he did not know who owned the ladder. (Tr. 141; Exs. 3, 11.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn25" href="#ftnref25"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">24 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Mr. Humberto Vixtha testified that he used a boom lift to get on the roof on the morning of August 29, 2017 because he had to take his personal tools, including his drill, impact drive and other stuff that he needed for the job up to the roof. (Tr. 207.)<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn26" href="#ftnref26"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">25 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The CO testified that employees working on the roof used the ladder to come down during the inspection. (Tr. 34.) He did not see this personally but was told by an employee that the workers on the roof used the ladder to exit the area during the inspection. (Tr. 89-90.) At the hearing, only one employee, Humberto Vixtha, testified. Mr. Humberto Vixtha admitted to using the ladder to come down during the inspection. He did not recall using the ladder to access the roof on the morning of August 29, 2017. He also testified that he did not recall using the ladder during a break that morning. The ladder was extended<span>
					</span>during the course of<span><span></span>
					</span>the OSHA inspection, thereby eliminating the hazard. It is unclear<span>
					</span>whether or not<span><span></span>
					</span>the ladder was in a proper, non-hazardous, extended position when Messrs. Humberto and Roman Vixtha came down it during the OSHA inspection or when Humberto Vixtha again used it after lunch to gain access to the roof. (Tr. 89-90, 212-14, 219; Ex. L at 15.) </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn27" href="#ftnref27"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">26 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The ladder was located about 50 feet from where Mr. Juarez was working when the photograph at Exhibit 4 was taken. (Tr. 187; Ex. 4 at “B” and “D”.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn28" href="#ftnref28"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">27 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Mr. Westcott testified that Mr. Neamon was up on the roof “sliding insulation board underneath our trusses." (Tr. 164.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn29" href="#ftnref29"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">28 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary need only show that the ladder was “available for use,” not that it was actually “in use” at the time of the inspection. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Barnard Constr. Co. v. U.S. Dep’t of Labor</span>, 726 F. App’x. 616 (9<span style="position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">th</span><span><span></span>
					</span>Cir. 2018) (citations omitted) (unpublished) (citations omitted); (Sec’y Reply Br. at 3, n. 2.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn30" href="#ftnref30"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">29 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>As stated earlier, All Wall did not raise any affirmative defenses during the February 1, 2018 pre-hearing conference and has not presented evidence of extraordinary circumstances. For these reasons alone, its UEM affirmative defense to Item 2 is rejected as untimely raised.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn31" href="#ftnref31"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">30 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The employee who testified did not indicate whether the presentation on the OSHA pocket guide covered portable ladders. (Tr. 199.) Respondent introduced a copy of the OSHA pocket guide and it addresses ladders generally but does not specifically discuss setting up or extending ladders. (Ex. E. at 5.) Mr. Westcott testified that he thought the use of a portable ladder would be included in the OSHA pocket guide. (Tr. 136.)</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn32" href="#ftnref32"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">31 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Mr. Westcott testified that if he started giving employees “days off or start deducting their paycheck, like I’ve heard of some companies trying to do, you won’t have any employees.” (Tr. 192-93; Resp’t Reply Br. at 19.) Fear of losing employees by taking disciplinary action beyond verbal reprimands is not a valid excuse for an ineffective enforcement of rules when violations have been discovered. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See Atl. & Gulf Stevedores v. OSHRC</span>, 534 F.2d 541, 555 (3<span style="position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">rd</span><span><span></span>
					</span>Cir. 1976) (“entire thrust of the [OSH] Act is to place primary responsibility for safety in the<span>
					</span>work place<span><span></span>
					</span>upon the employer.”). Even in the face of resistance by the employees, the employer “must take all available legal steps to secure compliance” with the OSH Act. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">
					</span>(Sec’y Reply Br. at 3.)</p>
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					</span>Respondent does not challenge the characterization of the violation as serious. </p>
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					<a name="ftn34" href="#ftnref34"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">33 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>It appears that the Secretary calculated the gravity-based penalty as approximately 70% of the statutory maximum, and then applied an additional 60% reduction to account for Respondent’s size. (Tr. 37-38.) </p>
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					<a name="ftn35" href="#ftnref35"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">34 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">In addition, Humbert Vixtha used fall protection when he got onto the ladder during the inspection. (Tr. 212, 217-18.) </span>This evidence does not undermine the finding of the violation as the standard does not provide exceptions to the requirement for ladders to be properly extended if fall protection is used. 29 C.F.R. § 1926.1053(b)(1). However, it does relate to the gravity of the violation. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Capform</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">at<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">1378<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">(considering precautions taken). </span>The CO indicated that the fall hazard mainly related to exiting the roof and agreed that if a person was connected to fall protection when on a ladder, this would somewhat reduce the hazard. (Tr. 87-88.) </p>
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					<a name="ftn36" href="#ftnref36"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">35 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>As noted above, Respondent failed to sufficiently communicate and enforce its rules about ladders. Still, Respondent’s safety program is relevant to the assessment of the violation’s gravity. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Capform</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">at<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">1378 (</span><span style="color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">considering precautions taken against injury when assessing a violation’s gravity). </span></p>
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