<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<HEAD>
	<META NAME="KEYWORDS" CONTENT="OSHRC Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission">
	<TITLE> Keenan, Hopkins, Schmidt and Stowell Contractors,  Inc., dba KHS&S., Docket No. 18-1306</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="ffffff">		<title>Document</title>
		<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8"/>
		<style type="text/css">
 p.hiddenParagraph { visibility:hidden } 
 p { widows:0; orphans:0; widows:0; orphans:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; font-family:Times New Roman; color:WindowText; font-size:10pt; } 
 p { font-family:Times New Roman; widows:0; orphans:0; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; }  p.style_Normal { widows:0; orphans:0; font-family:Times New Roman; } 
.style_Normal span { font-family:Times New Roman; } 
 span.style_DefaultParagraphFont { } 
 table.style_TableNormal { } 
 span.style_FootnoteTextChar { font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; } 
.style_FootnoteTextChar span { font-family:Times New Roman; } 
 span.style_FootnoteCharacters { position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;} 
.style_FootnoteCharacters span { position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;} 
 span.style_FootnoteAnchor { position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;} 
.style_FootnoteAnchor span { position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;} 
 span.style_FooterChar { font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; } 
.style_FooterChar span { font-family:Times New Roman; } 
 span.style_PageNumber { } 
 span.style_apple-style-span { } 
 span.style_HTMLPreformattedChar { font-size:10pt; font-family:Courier New; } 
.style_HTMLPreformattedChar span { font-family:Courier New; } 
 span.style_HeaderChar { font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; } 
.style_HeaderChar span { font-family:Times New Roman; } 
 span.style_apple-converted-space { } 
 span.style_Emphasis { font-style:italic; } 
.style_Emphasis span { font-style:italic; } 
 span.style_BalloonTextChar { font-size:8pt; font-family:Tahoma; } 
.style_BalloonTextChar span { font-family:Tahoma; } 
 span.style_Hyperlink { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline ;} 
.style_Hyperlink span { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline ;} 
 span.style_CommentReference { font-size:8pt; } 
.style_CommentReference span { } 
 span.style_CommentTextChar { font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; } 
.style_CommentTextChar span { font-family:Times New Roman; } 
 span.style_CommentSubjectChar { font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; } 
.style_CommentSubjectChar span { font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; } 
 span.style_EndnoteTextChar { font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; } 
.style_EndnoteTextChar span { font-family:Times New Roman; } 
 span.style_EndnoteCharacters { position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;} 
.style_EndnoteCharacters span { position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;} 
 span.style_EndnoteAnchor { position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;} 
.style_EndnoteAnchor span { position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;} 
 span.style_PlainTextChar { font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas; } 
.style_PlainTextChar span { font-family:Consolas; } 
 span.style_s1 { } 
 span.style_s8 { } 
 span.style_s6 { } 
 span.style_UnresolvedMention { color:#808080; background-color:#E6E6E6; } 
.style_UnresolvedMention span { color:#808080; background-color:#E6E6E6; } 
 p.style_Heading { margin-top:16px; margin-bottom:8px; font-size:14pt; font-family:Liberation Sans; } 
.style_Heading span { font-family:Liberation Sans; } 
 p.style_BodyText { margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:9.333px; line-height:1.15; } 
 p.style_List { font-family:Times New Roman; } 
.style_List span { font-family:Times New Roman; } 
 p.style_Caption { margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:8px; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; } 
.style_Caption span { font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; } 
 p.style_Index { font-family:Times New Roman; } 
.style_Index span { font-family:Times New Roman; } 
 p.style_FootnoteText { } 
.style_FootnoteText span { } 
 p.style_HeaderandFooter { } 
 p.style_Footer { } 
 p.style_HTMLPreformatted { widows:2; orphans:2; font-family:Courier New; } 
.style_HTMLPreformatted span { font-family:Courier New; } 
 p.style_Header { } 
 p.style_Default { font-size:12pt; font-family:Courier New; color:#000000; } 
.style_Default span { font-family:Courier New; color:#000000; } 
 p.style_NormalWeb { widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:12pt; } 
.style_NormalWeb span { } 
 p.style_Revision { font-family:Times New Roman; } 
.style_Revision span { font-family:Times New Roman; } 
 p.style_BalloonText { font-size:8pt; font-family:Tahoma; } 
.style_BalloonText span { font-family:Tahoma; } 
 p.style_ListParagraph { margin-left:48px; } 
 p.style_CommentText { } 
.style_CommentText span { } 
 p.style_CommentSubject { font-weight:bold; } 
.style_CommentSubject span { font-weight:bold; } 
 p.style_EndnoteText { } 
.style_EndnoteText span { } 
 p.style_PlainText { font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas; } 
.style_PlainText span { font-family:Consolas; } 
 p.style_FrameContents { } 
 table.style_TableGrid { } 
 span.X3AS7TOCHyperlink { color:#000000; text-decoration:none; } 
 p.X3AS7TABSTYLE { } 
 span.BulletSymbol { font-family:'Symbol'; } 
 body { margin-left:96px;margin-top:96px;margin-bottom:96px;margin-right:96px;} 
div.basic { width:16.51cm;height:22.86cm;} 
 p.hiddenParagraph { font-size:2pt; visibility:hidden; } 
</style>
		<script type="text/javascript">
							var useragent = navigator.userAgent;
							var navigatorname;
							if (useragent.indexOf('MSIE')!= -1)
							{
							navigatorname="MSIE";
							}
							else if (useragent.indexOf('Gecko')!= -1)
							{
							if (useragent.indexOf('Chrome')!= -1)
							navigatorname="Google Chrome";
							else
							navigatorname="Mozilla";
							}
							else if (useragent.indexOf('Mozilla')!= -1)
							{
							navigatorname="old Netscape or Mozilla";
							}
							else if (useragent.indexOf('Opera')!= -1)
							{
							navigatorname="Opera";
							}
							
							function symbol(code1,code2)
							{
							if (navigatorname == 'MSIE')
								document.write(code1);
							else
								document.write(code2);
							}
							</script>
	</head>
	<body xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><div class="basic"><div>
				<p style="line-height:normal; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; color:#010101; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:normal; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; color:#010101; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:normal; text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-weight:bold; color:#010101; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; ">
					</span><span style="font-weight:bold; color:#010101; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-weight:bold; color:#010101; font-family:Times New Roman; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<table style="border-collapse:collapse; width:8.458cm; align:left; margin-left:-.191cm; margin-bottom:0cm">
				<tr style="margin:0;border:0;padding:0;visibility:hidden;">
					<th style="width:319.667px;"/>
				</tr>
				<tr>
					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-bottom:.097cm; padding-top:.097cm; background-color:; border-right:dashed .009cm #000000; border-top:solid .009cm #000000; width:8.458cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">SECRETARY OF LABOR,<span>
									</span></span></p>
						</div>
					</td>
				</tr>
				<tr style="height:.667cm; ">
					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-bottom:.097cm; padding-top:.097cm; background-color:; border-right:dashed .009cm #000000; width:8.458cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
								</span></p>
						</div>
						<div>
							<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Complainant,</span></p>
						</div>
					</td>
				</tr>
				<tr>
					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-bottom:.097cm; padding-top:.097cm; background-color:; border-right:dashed .009cm #000000; width:8.458cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
								</span></p>
						</div>
						<div>
							<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> v. </span></p>
						</div>
						<div>
							<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
						</div>
					</td>
				</tr>
				<tr>
					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-bottom:.097cm; padding-top:.097cm; background-color:; border-right:dashed .009cm #000000; width:8.458cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">KEENAN, HOPKINS, SCHMIDT AND STOWELL CONTRACTORS, INC. dba KHS&S CONTRACTORS,</span></p>
						</div>
					</td>
				</tr>
				<tr>
					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-bottom:.097cm; padding-top:.097cm; background-color:; border-right:dashed .009cm #000000; border-bottom:solid .009cm #000000; width:8.458cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
								</span></p>
						</div>
						<div>
							<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Respondent.</span></p>
						</div>
					</td>
				</tr>
			</table>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span><span></span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; ">
				</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; ">
					<span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">DOCKET NO.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">18-1306</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><br/></span> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Appearances:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:48px; margin-right:-48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Summer Silversmith, Esq., U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor, Denver, CO</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:48px; margin-right:-48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For Complainant</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-right:-48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-right:-48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Kristin R.B. White, Esq., Fisher and Phillips, LLP, Denver, CO </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-right:-48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For Respondent</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Before: Administrative Law Judge Brian A. Duncan</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; 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>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">Procedural History</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">An employee was injured while working from an aerial lift basket at Respondent’s wo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rksite in Littleton, Colorado on July 2, 2018. As a result, OSHA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">conducted an investigation</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. During the worksite inspection, Compliance Safety and Health Officer (“CSHO”) Shane Lane learned that employees were climbing on, standing on, and working from t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he aerial lift basket guardrails to perform their work. Based on CSHO Lane’s investigation and recommendation, Complainant issued a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Citation and Notification of Penalty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, alleging Respondent committed a single, serious violation of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.453(b)(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2)(iv), and proposed a penalty of $5,543. Respondent timely<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">contested the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Citation</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, which brought the matter before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Act.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A trial was conducted in Denver,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Colorado on April 9, 2019. Four witnesses testified at trial: (1) Fernando Ruiz Moya, former employee of Respondent; (2) Martin Rojas, current employee of Respondent; (3) CSHO Shane Lane; (4) Christian<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Mancera</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, Respondent’s Regional Safety Engineer. (Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">29, 81, 127, 201). Both parties timely submitted post-trial briefs for the Court’s consideration.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">Jurisdiction & Stipulations</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The parties stipulated that the Commission has jurisdiction over this proceeding pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Act and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that, a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t all times relevant to this proceeding, Respondent was an employer engaged in a business and industry affecting interstate commerce within the meaning of Sections 3(3) and 3(5) of the Act, 29 U.S.C. § 652(5). (Tr. 18). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Slingluff</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>v. OSHRC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 425 F.3d 86</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1 (10th Cir. 2005). The parties also stipulated to other factual matters, which were read into the record. (Tr. 18-20).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">Factual Background</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>In July of 2018, Respondent was engaged as a subcontractor to Hensel Phelps, helping construct a new building (“ATL</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">O facility”) on a Lockheed Martin campus in Littleton, Colorado. (Tr. 19, 130). Respondent’s employees performed framing work and drywall/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">densglass</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>installation. (Tr. 19, 33, 133). While the parties agreed that the OSHA inspection resulted from an empl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">oyee injury while working on an aerial lift, that accident is not the focus of the alleged violation in the case. (Tr. 24, 84). Rather, CSHO Lane learned facts related to this alleged violation while he was onsite conducting his inspection. (Tr. 84, 134)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent’s employees Fernando Ruiz Moya (“Ruiz”) and Martin Rojas (“Rojas”) were assigned to install drywall/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">densglass</span><span class="style_FootnoteAnchor style_FootnoteAnchor " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref1" href="#ftn1">1</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to the exterior, upper levels of the building, from an aerial lift basket, on July 2, 2018. (Tr. 33-34, 85, 164-165, 209;<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Exs</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. C</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-6, C-11). They were working approximately 60-80 feet above the ground. (Tr. 34, 71, 85). They had been performing this type of work for approximately eight days. (Tr. 35, 88). Their work was supervised by two of Respondent’s foremen, Morgan Payne and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Ricardo<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cerecer</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">es</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. (Tr. 34-35, 83, 85, 242).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">This was an unusual job, in that the structural I-beams of the building were exposed, and the drywall/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">densglass</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>had to be installed by reaching through or around the exterior I-beams and duct work. (Tr. 37, 89,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">145;<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Exs</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. C-8, C-9). The distance from their aerial lift basket to the point of installation was sometimes 3-4 feet. (Tr. 113). Therefore, the two employees often had difficulty reaching the location of the drywall installation from the aerial lift bask</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">et. (Tr. 91). Each 4’x8’ sheet of drywall/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">densglass</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>weighed about 40<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pounds, and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>needed to be screwed down every 8 inches. (Tr. 43-44). Ruiz estimated that each sheet required 20-25 screws during<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">installation, and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>took about 10-15 minutes per sheet to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">install. (Tr. 50, 52). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">So, with the consent and instruction of supervisors Payne and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cereceres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the employees installed self-retracting lanyards (often referred to by witnesses as “yo-yos”) on the steel beams above their basket, so they could tie-off wh</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">en they stepped out of the basket onto the guardrails or building I-beams. (Tr. 43-44, 60, 72, 97, 113). They turned the yo-yo strap in to either Supervisor Payne or “the tool guy” at the end of each<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work day</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. (Tr. 98). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The aerial lift (aka “boom lift”</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">) had two tubular metal guardrails which encompassed the floor of the basket. (Tr. 36; Ex. C-6). Ruiz and Rojas were consistent in their explanation of how<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">they used the guardrails to perform their work. Ruiz and Rojas explained that they positioned the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mselves in whatever position enabled them to get the drywall/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">densglass</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>installed. (Tr. 53, 92). Sometimes, the employees got out of the basket entirely and stood on an I-beam. (Tr. 92). They used the basket gate if possible, but if it could not be opened</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, just climbed out using the guard rails. (Tr. 93, 95, 112, 121-22). Other times, to install the drywall, they stood with one foot in the basket, and one foot on the basket railing. (Tr. 51, 95). Sometimes, they stood with both feet on the basket raili</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng – top rails and/or mid-rails. (Tr. 49, 70). When asked about Respondent’s instructions regarding standing on the aerial basket guard rails, Ruiz testified: “The only thing they wanted there was the job done.” (Tr. 53). Ruiz and Rojas both said that th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ey were authorized, by Supervisors Payne and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cereceres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, to get out of the basket and stand on the basket rails to get their job done,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">as long as</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>they were tied-off to the yo-yo strap. (Tr. 100, 108, 117, 124). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Ruiz estimated that about 12-15 sheets of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">drywall were installed daily while they stood up on the aerial lift basket railing. (Tr. 52). Rojas estimated that they needed to climb up on the basket rails to do their job about every 15 minutes, or about 3 times per hour. (Tr. 94). He said each tim</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e he climbed up on the basket rail, it usually lasted about 5 minutes. (Tr. 94). The employees were tied-off to the yo-yo line whenever they stood on the basket rails, or whenever they got out of the basket all together. (Tr. 47, 50, 69, 71, 148). As the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>employees climbed around on the guard rails, the basket often swayed or moved. (Tr. 94-95). Rojas, who was still working for Respondent at the time of trial, testified that: “You feel like you’re in a boat. If you are not used to being on that type of s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">urface, then yeah, it will<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">move</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and you can fall. You can injure yourself.” (Tr. 94-95). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Neither Payne<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cereceres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>ever instructed them not to use the aerial lift guardrails to perform their work. (Tr. 53,060). Throughout the day, they often saw Sup</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ervisor Payne walking<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">around underneath their elevated basket. (Tr. 54, 106). In fact, the boom lift got stuck in position twice on the day of the OSHA inspection, and Supervisor Payne had to come fix their machine. (Tr. 55-56, 101, 105). Supervisor<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cer</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">eceres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>also walked by them a couple of times during the day, once telling them to raise the fall protection yo-yo strap to a higher position. (Tr. 59-60, 106). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In addition to both supervisors walking and working underneath them throughout the day; fixin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g their stuck machine twice, and commenting on the position of their yo-yo strap, the aerial lift was also positioned about 25 feet from the main entrance/exit to the jobsite. (Tr. 57, 142). Furthermore, Respondent’s jobsite trailer was visible from the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">boom lift, about 150 feet away. (Tr. 58, 107-108, 134-135). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Court also notes that both employees made comments during their testimony that calls into question documentation of their safety training. After the July 2, 2018 accident, Ruiz testified<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that he was asked by Respondent to sign some<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">papers, but</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was told not to date them. (Tr. 74-75). Ruiz was suspended for two days after the accident, and then ultimately terminated. (Tr. 77). When asked at trial about his signature on some safety training</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>documents, Rojas testified the documents had his name on them, but not his signature. (Tr. 110; Ex. R-8). “I don’t write my name like that. I did not write that. I don’t know who would do that. I have no idea [sic]<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">whose</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that handwriting is.” (Tr. 110-</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">111). However, Rojas did acknowledge receiving some safety training in April of 2018. (Tr. 111). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">Discussion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">Citation 1, Item 1</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Complainant alleged a serious violation of the Act in Citation<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Item 1 as follows:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:16px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">29 CFR §1926.453(b)(2)(iv): Employee(s) working in an aerial lift were sitting or climbing on the edge of the basket:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:16px; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(a) On or about July 2, 2018, employees were expos</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed to fall injuries while climbing on the guardrails of a boom lift to position themselves in a more desired working position to install exterior drywall panels on a commercial building.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Citation and Notification of Penalty</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at 6.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The cited standard provide</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Employees shall always stand firmly on the floor of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">basket, and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>shall not sit or climb on the edge of the basket or use planks, ladders, or other devices for a work position.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">29 CFR §1926.453(b)(2)(iv).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish a violation of an OSHA standar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d, Complainant must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that: (1) the cited standard applied to the facts; (2) the employer failed to comply with the terms of the cited standard; (3) employees were exposed or had access to the hazard covered by the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>standard, and (4) the employer had actual or constructive knowledge of the violative condition (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">i.e.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the employer knew, or with the exercise of reasonable diligence could have known). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Atlantic Battery Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">16 BNA OSHC 2131 (No. 90-1747, 1994). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">The Sta</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">ndard Applied and Was Violated</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Ruiz and Rojas were working from a Snorkel, Model TB 86J personnel lift. (Tr. 163-166; Ex. C-11). CSHO Lane and Regional Safety Engineer<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Manceras</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>agreed that the lift at issue was an “aerial lift,” as the term is used in the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>cited regulation. (Tr. 63-165; 209, 215; Ex. C-11). It is also undisputed that Respondent’s employees were engaged in construction work on a new building, encompassed by 29 C.F.R. Part 1926<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">et al</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Therefore, the cited regulation applied to the work bein</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g performed. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent argues that the regulations under Subpart M general fall protection standards more appropriately applied to this case, not Subpart L (where the cited regulation is located) dealing with aerial lifts. That perhaps may be true duri</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng those times when the employees exited the aerial lift basket and were working from the I-beams of the building (as they were no longer in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the aerial lift), but not while they were still standing/working from the lift.</span><span class="style_FootnoteAnchor style_FootnoteAnchor " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref2" href="#ftn2">2</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> While employees were working fro</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">m the aerial lift basket, even when inappropriately standing on the guardrails of the basket, the aerial lift safety regulations applied. The Commission has consistently held that specific standards prevail in application over more general standards. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Cinc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">innati Gas & Electric</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 21 BNA OSHC 1057 (No. 01-0711, 2005); see also 29 C.F.R. § 1910.5(c)(1), “If a particular standard is specifically applicable to a condition, practice, means, method operation, or process, it shall prevail over any different general<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">standard which might otherwise be applicable . . . .” Respondent’s argument that the cited regulation did not apply is rejected.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Ruiz and Rojas admitted to repeatedly climbing on, standing on, and working from the guardrails of the aerial lift basket to perform their installation work. The cited regulation specifically prohibits that activity from the “edge” of an aerial lift. The</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>term “edge” as used in the cited regulation has consistently been found to include the guardrails encompassing the lift basket. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Universal Construction Company</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 18 BNA OSHC 1390 (No. 97-1946, 1998, ALJ);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Ruscilli</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Construction Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 18 BNA OSHC 1793 (No. 97</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-1603, 1999, ALJ);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Baker Drywall Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 18 BNA OSHC 1862 (No. 98-2088, 1999, ALJ);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Ernest Bock & Sons, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 2001 CCH OSHD 32,408 (OSHRC, 2001, ALJ). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In addition, a 2002 OSHA Letter of Interpretation specifically addressed the question of whether an em</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ployee can stand on the guardrails of an aerial lift basket to work, if properly tied off to a self-retracting lanyard. (Tr. 169-170; Ex. C-12). “The answer is no for aerial lifts.” (Ex. C-12). The 2004 OSHA Letter of Interpretation introduced by Respon</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">dent does not create an exception to the cited regulation, nor introduce any inconsistency with the above discussion. (Ex.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">R-4). Accordingly, the cited regulation applied to the work being performed, and its terms were violated.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">Respondent’s Employees we</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">re Exposed to a Hazardous Condition</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>To establish employee exposure, the Secretary must show that Respondent’s employees were actually exposed to the violative condition or that it was “reasonably predictable by operational necessity or otherwise (includin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">g inadvertence), that employees have been, are, or will be in the zone of danger.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Fabricated Metal Prods.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 18 BNA OSHC 1072, 1074 (No. 93-1853, 1997). Respondent’s employees, Ruiz and Rojas, repeatedly and consistently climbed on, stood on, and worked fr</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">om the guardrails of the aerial lift basket to perform their installation work. The record establishes that this occurred on July 3, 2018, and previous days, while they were doing the same type of work. Employee exposure to the hazardous condition was cl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">early established. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">Respondent Had Knowledge of the Hazardous Condition<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To prove this element, Complainant must show Respondent knew or, with the exercise of reasonable diligence, could have known of the violation.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Dun-Par Engineered Form Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 12 BNA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSHC 1962, 1965 (No. 82-928, 1986). The key is whether Respondent was aware of the conditions constituting a violation, not whether it understood the conditions violated the Act.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Phoenix Roofing, Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 17 BNA OSHC 1076, 1079–80 (No. 90-2148, 1995). Compl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ainant can prove knowledge of a corporate employer through the knowledge, actual or constructive, of its supervisory employees.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Dover Elevator Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 16 BNA OSHC 1281, 1286 (No. 91-862, 1993). If a supervisor is, or should be, aware of the noncomplying cond</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">uct of a subordinate, it is reasonable to charge the employer with that knowledge.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Mountain States Tel. & Tel. Co. v. OSHRC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 623 F.2d 155, 158 (10th Cir. 1980).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Ruiz and Rojas were standing on and climbing on the aerial lift basket guardrails multiple<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">times per hour, throughout the day. (Tr. 49-52, 93-95, 171). Supervisors Payne and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cereceres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>acknowledged providing them with a yo-yo strap to enable them to climb out of the basket as needed. Payne, and to a lesser extent<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cereceres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, were seen walking ar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ound the job underneath the two employees throughout the day. Payne even repaired their stuck aerial lift twice. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cereceres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>stopped and commented on the location of their yo-yo on one occasion. In addition, the aerial lift was visible from Respondent’s j</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ob trailer, and was only 25 feet from the jobsite entrance/exit. Although the record contains no evidence that Payne or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cereceres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>specifically observed Ruiz and/or Rojas standing or climbing on the aerial lift rails, the violative condition was open, obvi</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ous, and in plain view. With the exercise of reasonable diligence, both Payne and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cereceres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>should have known what Ruiz and Rojas were doing to perform their assigned task. Reasonable diligence includes adequate supervision of employees, the formulation<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">and implementation of work rules, and adequate training programs to ensure that the work is safe. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Pride Oil Well Serv</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 15 BNA OSHC 1809 (No. 87-692, 1992).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Court finds that Respondent knew, or with the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have kn</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">own that Ruiz and Rojas were repeatedly standing on, climbing on, and working from the aerial lift basket guardrails.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">The Violation Was Serious</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A violation is “serious” if there was a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could have resulted from the violative condition. 29 U.S.C. § 666(k). Complainant need not show that there was a substantial probability that an accident w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ould<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">actually occur</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">; he need only show that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">if</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>an accident occurred, serious physical harm could result. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Phelps Dodge Corp. v. OSHRC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 725 F.2d 1237, 1240 (9th Cir. 1984). If the possible injury addressed by a regulation is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">death or serious physical harm,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a violation of the regulation is serious. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Mosser Construction</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 23 BNA OSHC 1044 (No. 08-0631, 2010);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Dec-Tam Corp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 15 BNA OSHC 2072 (No. 88-0523, 1993).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">If Ruiz or Rojas had slipped while working from the aerial lift guardrails, they could have been ser</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iously injured. The self-retracting lanyard, or yo-yo, they were connected to would quickly slow the rate of the fall or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">swing, but</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>would not prevent it. (Tr. 149). Complainant and Respondent disagreed on the distance that the employees would fall or sw</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing if they lost their footing while standing on the guardrails. Complainant argued they could have fallen as much as 14 feet before the fall protection equipment stopped them. (Tr. 151). Respondent argued it would have only been 2 feet of free fall. (T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r. 211-212, 240). The Court finds that a slip, fall, or swing of even 2-3 feet by either employee, could have resulted in them striking the steel I-beam, the outside of the basket, or falling in between the basket and the steel I-beams. (Tr. 152-154, 171</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">). This could have resulted in serious injuries, including head injuries or broken limbs. (Tr. 154, 172). This is especially true considering the shaky, unsteadiness of the aerial lift basket as employees moved around. (Tr. 94-95, 154). Citation 1, Item</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>1 was properly characterized as a serious violation of the Act.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:16px; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">Respondent Failed to Prove the Affirmative Defense of Unpreventable Employee Misconduct</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In order to prevail on a claim of unpreventable employee m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">isconduct, Respondent must show: (1) it established work rules designed to prevent the violation; (2) it adequately communicated those rules to its employees; (3) it took steps to discover violations of the rules; and (4) it effectively enforced the rules<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">when violations were detected.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Am. Eng’g & Dev. Corp.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 23 BNA OSHC 2093, 2096–97 (No. 10-0359, 2012). In other words, it is incumbent upon Respondent to “demonstrate that the actions of the employee were a departure from a uniformly<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">and effectively commun</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">icated and enforced<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">workrule</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>[sic].”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Archer-Western Contractors Ltd.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 15 BNA OSHC 1013 (No. 87-1067, 1991).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent’s Regional Safety Engineer, Christian<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Mancera</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, testified that Respondent had a rule in place specifically prohibiting employees from work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing from aerial lift basket railings.</span><span class="style_FootnoteAnchor style_FootnoteAnchor " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref3" href="#ftn3">3</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(Tr. 217; Ex. R-3). Respondent’s Safety Manual, under aerial boom lifts, states: “Do not stand on rails of aerial boom lift to gain greater height.” Both employees were trained and authorized to operate the aerial<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lift. (Tr. 65-67, 88). The operating manual for the aerial lift also specifically states: “Do not climb on guardrails.” (Tr. 167, Ex. C-11). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The record established, however, that Respondent was not monitoring for compliance with this rule, nor enforci</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ng it when employees were not complying. Supervisors Payne and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cereceres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>were walking under and around Ruiz and Rojas throughout the day while they stood and climbed on the basket guard rails. Both employees testified that they needed to do that constant</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ly, multiple times per hour, while the lift was in plain sight of anyone in the area underneath them; in plain sight of the jobsite entrance/exit; and in plain sight of Respondent’s jobsite trailer. And more specifically, Supervisor Payne issued them the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">yo-yo strap so they could climb out of the basket and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Cereceres</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>even commented on its location at one point in the day. Clearly, despite the company policy and aerial lift manual rule, Respondent’s supervisors were not monitoring for, or enforcing any kin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d of prohibition on standing on or working from aerial lift basket guard rails. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Automatic Sprinkler Corp.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 8 BNA OSHC 1384, 1387 (No. 76-5089, 1980) (an employer “must make a reasonable effort to anticipate the particular hazards to which its employees ma</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y be<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">exposed in the course of their scheduled work.”)). This Court is convinced that the two employees were expected to get the drywall/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">densglass</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>installed in whatever manner was needed, including repeatedly standing on and working from the aerial lift gu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ardrails, in full view and with full knowledge of their two supervisors.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Additionally, there was no evidence of Respondent disciplining employees for standing on, climbing on, or working from aerial lift guardrails until after the inspection. CSHO Lane w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">as told that after this incident, an employee was disciplined for working from aerial lift basket guardrails, though no documentation was provided. (Tr. 157). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent failed to establish that it adequately communicated a prohibition on standing/climb</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing on aerial lift guardrails to the employees; that it took steps to discover violations of that rule; or that it effectively enforced the rule when violations were detected. As such, Respondent’s assertion of unpreventable employee misconduct is REJECTE</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">D.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">Respondent Failed to Prove the Affirmative Defense of</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">Impossibility or Infeasibility</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The defense of infeasibility requires an employer to prove that: (1) the means of compliance prescribed by the standard were technologically or economically infeasibl</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e, or necessary work operations were technologically infeasible after implementation; and (2) there were no feasible alternative means of protection, or an alternative method of protection was used.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">V.I.P. Structures, Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 16 BNA OSHC 1873, 1993–95 CCH OS</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">HD ¶ 30,485 (No. 91-1167, 1994).  See also<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">A. J. McNulty & Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC 1121, 1129 (No. 94-1758, 2000).  The employer has the burden of proving infeasibility of compliance. <span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">State Sheet Metal</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 16 BNA OSHC 1155, 1161 (No. 90-2894, 1993).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent fa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">iled to establish that the drywall/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">densglass</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>installation work could not have been performed by exiting the aerial lift basket properly and working from the I-beams (as employees said they did part of the time). Respondent also failed to establish that th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e more difficult sections of drywall/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">densglass</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>could not have been installed from inside the building itself, rather than externally from an elevated lift. It was Respondent’s burden, in asserting this defense, to establish that there were no other method</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s available to install the drywall/</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">densglass</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>other than employees standing on the guardrails of the aerial lift basket. Respondent failed to meet that burden. Accordingly, Respondent’s assertion of impossibility/infeasibility of compliance is REJECTED. S</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">imilar arguments of impossibility, under similar factual conditions, have been rejected at the Commission. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Ruscilli</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Construction Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">supra</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">Penalty</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In calculating appropriate penalties for affirmed violations, Section 17(j) of the Act requires the Commission give due consideration to four criteria: (1) the size of the employer’s business, (2) the gravity of the violation, (3) the good faith of the em</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ployer, and (4) the employer’s prior history of violations. Gravity is the primary consideration and is determined by the number of employees exposed, the duration of the exposure, the precautions taken against injury, and the likelihood of an actual inju</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ry.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">J.A. Jones Construction Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 15 BNA OSHC 2201 (No. 87-2059, 1993). It is well established that the Commission and its judges conduct<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">de novo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>penalty determinations and have full discretion to assess penalties based on the facts of each case and the ap</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">plicable statutory criteria. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Valdak</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Corp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 17 BNA OSHC 1135 (No. 93-0239, 1995);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Allied Structural Steel</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 2 BNA OSHC 1457 (No. 1681, 1975).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Complainant proposed a penalty of $5,543 because CSHO Lane concluded that this was a low gravity violation. (Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">175). He determined that the severity of injury likely to occur from<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the violation was “low,” and the probability of an accident was “lesser.” (Tr. 175). In calculating the proposed penalty, Complainant considered Respondent’s status as a large employer</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>with approximately 900 employees; afforded no good faith penalty reduction; nor any reduction based on violation history. (Tr. 176). The record establishes that two employees were exposed to the violative condition repeatedly and continuously throughout<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the shift on July 3, 2018 and on previous days. Based on the totality of the circumstances discussed above, the Court sees no reason to depart from Complainant’s proposed penalty. A penalty of $5,543 is appropriate and will be assessed.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; 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="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
						</span>Based upo</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is ORDERED</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that:</span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; padding-right:20px;">1.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent’s<span>
					</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Motion for a New Trial</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, made in its<span>
					</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Post-Hearing Brief</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, based upon the<span>
					</span></span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">timing of the disclosure of two unredacted government informant witness statements</span><span class="style_FootnoteAnchor style_FootnoteAnchor " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref4" href="#ftn4">4</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is DENIED; and</span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; padding-right:20px;">2.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Citation 1, Item 1 is AFFIRMED as a serious violation, and a penalty of $5,543 is</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ASSESSED.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:192px; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-size:14pt; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:14pt; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline ;">/s/</span><span style="font-size:26pt; font-family:Lucida Sans Unicode; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Lucida Sans Unicode; font-size:26pt; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline ;"><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:26pt; font-family:Brush Script MT; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Brush Script MT; font-size:26pt; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline ;">Brian A. Duncan</span><span style="font-size:26pt; font-family:Lucida Handwriting; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Lucida Handwriting; font-size:26pt; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline ;">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Date: January 17, 2020</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Judge Brian A. Duncan</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Denver, CO</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commissio</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p> </p>
			</div>
			<hr/>"
      <div>
				<p>
					<a name="ftn-1" href="#ftnref-1"></a> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p>
					<a name="ftn0" href="#ftnref0"></a> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn1" href="#ftnref1"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; ">1 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Although employees repeatedly referred to the sheets being installed as “drywall,” it apparently was commercially called “densglass.” (Tr. 41). The sheet size and installation method for the material appears to be the same. (Tr. 206).<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn2" href="#ftnref2"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; ">2 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Court notes<span>
					</span>that Subpart M of Part 1926 does contain Subpart V, regulations applicable to the use of aerial lifts while constructing “Electric Power Transmission and Distribution” lines, which were not involved in this case. 29 C.F.R. § 1926.950<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">et al</span>.<span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn3" href="#ftnref3"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; ">3 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Court did not find Mr.<span>
					</span>Mancera<span><span></span>
					</span>to be very credible. For example, he testified that the<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">first time</span><span><span></span>
					</span>he had ever heard of employees working from basket guardrails was<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">during this trial</span>. (Tr. 214, lines 23-25). This seems highly improbable considering his position<span>
					</span>as Respondent’s Regional Safety Engineer; that the<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">Citation</span><span><span></span>
					</span>alleged that fact back in 2018; and that the allegation in this case would not have been discussed with him during pre-trial discovery, or during preparation for his trial testimony. </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn4" href="#ftnref4"><span class="style_FootnoteCharacters style_FootnoteCharacters " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; ">4 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 21-2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2, 62, 80).</span></p>
			</div></div></body>
</html>