<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
		<title>Dade Builders Contractors, Inc. 19-0988</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-size:12pt; }  p.style_Normal { widows:0; orphans:0; } 
.style_Normal span { } 
 span.style_DefaultParagraphFont { } 
 table.style_TableNormal { } 
 table.style_TableGrid { } 
 p.style_BalloonText { font-size:8pt; font-family:Tahoma; } 
.style_BalloonText span { font-family:Tahoma; } 
 p.style_FootnoteText { } 
.style_FootnoteText span { } 
 span.style_FootnoteReference { position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;} 
.style_FootnoteReference span { position:relative;font-size:0.58em; bottom: 1ex;} 
 p.style_Footer { } 
 span.style_PageNumber { } 
 p.style_Header { } 
 span.style_FootnoteTextChar { } 
 span.style_Emphasis { font-style:italic; } 
.style_Emphasis span { font-style:italic; } 
 span.style_FooterChar { } 
.style_FooterChar span { } 
 span.style_LineNumber { } 
 span.style_CommentReference { font-size:8pt; } 
.style_CommentReference span { } 
 p.style_CommentText { } 
.style_CommentText span { } 
 span.style_CommentTextChar { } 
 p.style_CommentSubject { font-weight:bold; } 
.style_CommentSubject span { font-weight:bold; } 
 span.style_CommentSubjectChar { font-weight:bold; } 
.style_CommentSubjectChar span { font-weight:bold; } 
 p.style_Revision { } 
.style_Revision span { } 
 span.style_Hyperlink { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline ;} 
.style_Hyperlink span { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline ;} 
 p.style_ListParagraph { margin-left:48px; } 
 span.style_cosearchterm { } 
 span.style_IntenseEmphasis { font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; color:#4F81BD; } 
.style_IntenseEmphasis span { font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; color:#4F81BD; } 
 span.style_PlaceholderText { color:#808080; } 
.style_PlaceholderText span { color:#808080; } 
 span.style_Strong { font-weight:bold; } 
.style_Strong span { font-weight:bold; } 
 span.style_costarpage { } 
 span.style_copinpointicon { } 
 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="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">United States of America</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION<span>
						</span></span></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:auto; align:left; margin-left:-.191cm; margin-bottom:0cm">
				<tr style="margin:0;border:0;padding:0;visibility:hidden;">
					<th style="width:319.2px;"/>
				</tr>
				<tr>
					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-top:0cm;padding-bottom:0cm;padding-left:0.19cm;padding-right:0.19cm;background-color:; border-right:dashed .018cm #000000; border-top:solid .018cm #000000; width:8.446cm;">
						<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; ">SECRETARY OF LABOR</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
									</span></span></p>
						</div>
					</td>
				</tr>
				<tr style="height:.6cm; ">
					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-top:0cm;padding-bottom:0cm;padding-left:0.19cm;padding-right:0.19cm;background-color:; border-right:dashed .018cm #000000; width:8.446cm;">
						<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; ">
								</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Complainan</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t,</span></p>
						</div>
					</td>
				</tr>
				<tr>
					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-top:0cm;padding-bottom:0cm;padding-left:0.19cm;padding-right:0.19cm;background-color:; border-right:dashed .018cm #000000; width:8.446cm;">
						<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-top:0cm;padding-bottom:0cm;padding-left:0.19cm;padding-right:0.19cm;background-color:; border-right:dashed .018cm #000000; width:8.446cm;">
						<div>
							<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">DADE BUILDERS CONTRACTORS, INC.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span></p>
						</div>
					</td>
				</tr>
				<tr>
					<td style="vertical-align:top;padding-top:0cm;padding-bottom:0cm;padding-left:0.19cm;padding-right:0.19cm;background-color:; border-right:dashed .018cm #000000; border-bottom:solid .018cm #000000; width:8.446cm;">
						<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; ">
								</span><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="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSHRC Docket No</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</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; ">1</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">9-0988</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:center; 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; "> </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; "><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>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Appearances:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Karen Mock, Esq.</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, Department of Labor, Office of Solicitor,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Atlanta, Georgia</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">For Complainant</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Nicholas C. Hall, Esq., Department of Labor, Office of Solicitor, Atlanta, Georgia</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">For Complainant</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Jose-</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Trelles</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Herrera, Esq., Herrera Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">F</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">or Respondent</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><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; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Be</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">fore: Administrativ</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">e Law Judge<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Christopher D. Helms</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>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">I.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Procedural History</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; 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; ">This case is before the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Occupational</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Safety and Health Review Commission (“Commission”) pursuant to section 10(c) of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. §<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">659(c) (“the Act”).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In response to an accident that occurred</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>on November 7, 2018,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at 4720 NW 85</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Avenue, Doral, Florida 33166</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(“worksite”)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) conducted an inspection of Respondent’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As a result of the inspection,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">on May 3, 2019,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSHA issued<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a Citation and Notification of Penalty (“Citation”) to Respondent, alleging two serious violation</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of the Act, with a total proposed penalty of $13,260.00</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Citation 1, Item 1 alleges that Respondent violated 29 C.F.R. § 1926.20(b)(2) by failing to “initiate and maintain programs which provide for frequent and regular inspection</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of the job site . . .” Specifically, in the alleged violation description (“AVD”), OSHA alleges that Respondent failed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“inspect the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">job</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site to ensure employees were protected against falls, exposing employees to a fall of 16 feet.” </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Citation 1, Item 2 alleges a violation of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.501(b)(1), which requires “[e]ach employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge which was 6 feet [] or more above a lower level” to be protected by at least one of three designated fall protection methods (guard rail</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; ">s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ystem</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system). In the AVD, OSHA alleges that Respondent “had not provided a fall protection system for the employees who were laying blocks next to an<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">unprotected edge, exposing<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">employees to a fall of 16 feet.”</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The trial of this matter commenced and concluded on October 10, 2019, in Miami, Florida. The following witnesses testified</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">: Tony<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Maleno</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(Project Manager for K.D.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Construction);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Stephen Merino</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(Respondent’s Director of Operations)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">;</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and Compliance Safety and Health Officer (“CS</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">H</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">O”) Juan<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Roa</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For the reasons that follow, the citation issued to Respondent as a result of OSHA Inspection No.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1360579</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is VACATED, and no penalty is assessed. </span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; line-height:2; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">II.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Stipulations and Jurisdiction</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On September 25, 2019, the parties filed an Agree</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Prehearing Statement in which the parties specified certain facts that are not in dispute. The parties agreed that Respondent is an<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">employer engaged in a business affecting commerce within the meaning of § 3(5) of the Act</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, and that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent was engaged in construction as of the date of the alleged violation.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The parties<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">further agreed to the location of the worksite, and that the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cited standards for Items 1and 2 are applicable.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref2" href="#ftn2">1</a></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; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Finally, the parties stipulated that</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, on November 7, 2018,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Jose Rojas and his crew<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">consisting of four people<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">were</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">w</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">orksite laying cement blocks on the edge of a floor that was approximately 16 feet above ground level.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref3" href="#ftn3">2</a></span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">III.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Factual Background</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>On November 7, 2018, Respondent was performing masonry work as a subcontractor for K.D. Construction on the worksite. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 17-19</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As part of this masonry work, Respondent was contracted to install cement blocks, precast coppers, and precast lentils. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 18</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; 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><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent has approximately 20 to 30 employees. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 57</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Respondent’s masonry crews range from five to seven masons and four to six laborers.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 58</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Prior to the accident, Respondent had been working on the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">approximately six to eight months. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 43</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Respondent<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hired</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a subcontractor, Lexis Enterprise (“Lexis”), to provide a masonry crew to perform work on the worksite. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 46-47</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Jose Rojas, known as “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,” was the foreman of the masonry crew. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 47; 107-109</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The CSHO testified that although he had asked for the contract during his inspection, he was only provided with a check in which Respondent had paid Lexis. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 134</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">There was no evidence presented at trial that a written contract existed between Respondent and Lexis. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 134</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </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="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Stephen Merino is Respondent’s Director of Operations. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 44</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As the Director of Operations, Mr. Merino’s duties includ</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>supervising a few jobsites, dispatching delivery trucks, taking orders for materials from Respondent’s contractors on the sites, and check</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ing</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the sites for safety issues. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 44-45; 71</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Mr. Merino testified that K.D. Construction hired Respondent to handle all the masonry work at the worksite. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 64</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; 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; ">Mr. Merino and Oviedo (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Ovie</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">) Gonzalez were the only supervisors for Respondent. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 52-53</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Both Mr. Merino and Mr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Gonzalez</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>report to Mr. Merino’s father, Louis Merino. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 53</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Stephen Merino would visit the worksite three to four times per week and would spend approximately an hour on the worksite during these visits. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 44</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As part of these visits, Mr. Merino would check on the quality and quantity of the masonry block that Respondent was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">in charge of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">laying and</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>would check to see if any additional materials were needed. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 55</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In addition, Mr. Merino would check the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site for safety issues. (Tr. 71). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Mr. Gonzales only visited the worksite perhaps three or four times for the entire job. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 53</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; 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; ">At trial, t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he recitation of the facts related to the accident was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">imp</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">recise. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Although f</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ar from chronicling the incident, the</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; ">evidence at trial</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>appeared to show that</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; ">a pallet of blocks (presumably, masonry blocks) was being flown overhead to masons working on the balcony of the second floor at the worksite.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref4" href="#ftn4">3</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 72</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">;<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Citation 1, Items 1 and 2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">W</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hen the pallet was set down, some blocks fell from the pallet onto the victim</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">who was located near the edge on the second floor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">60,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">72</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">; Agreed Prehearing Statement at 4</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Although the government stated</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in its opening statement<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that the accident resulted in a fatality, (Tr. 11), Respondent contested th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">government’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">statement</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(Tr. 13-14). Moreover,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>contrary to the government’s opening statement,</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; ">although the victim was injured,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">no evidence was presented<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at trial<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">that in any way suggested that the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">accident</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>resulted in a fatality. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The CSHO visited the worksite as part of OSHA’s inspection four days after the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">accident</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 141-142</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</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; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">During the inspection, the CSHO interviewed Jose Rojas, known as “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,” the foreman of the masonry crew. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 47; 107-109</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>did not testify at the trial. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">However, t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he CSHO testified that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>informed him that Stephen Merino</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; ">had been directing his work at the worksite. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 109-111</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The CSHO testified that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>stated that Stephen Merino would direct the crew where to lay blocks on the worksite and he would<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">provide</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>materials to the worksite. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 111-112</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</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; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">According to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema’s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>statement to the CSHO, Stephen Merino had directed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and his work crew to the second floor. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 113-114</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; 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; ">The</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>CSHO testified that he was informed during the inspection that there were no wood</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">en</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>barriers or guardrails present on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site immediately after the accident. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 114-115</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref5" href="#ftn5">4</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">CSHO further testified that, according to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chem</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, only one of the masonry workers on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site on the day of the incident had a “yo-yo”</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(i.e.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a retractable</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>fall protection lifeline</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 115</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>also informed the CSHO there was only one anchor point for a single crew member to use. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 115-116</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The CSHO determined that only one anchor point existed at the time of the accident, although two additional anchor points were installed after the accident before the CSHO’s onsite inspection. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 122</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</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; ">See also</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Ex. R-4 at 6.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>According</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the CSHO, all four masonry crew members had been working on the wall of the second floor for about two hours at the time of the accident. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 123</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Neither Stephen<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Merino nor<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>inspected the worksite on the day of, or the day before, the accident. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 11</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">0</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-</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; ">11, 139-140</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; line-height:2; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">IV.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Discussion</span></p>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; color:#000000; padding-right:20px;">A.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Applicable Law</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#010101; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#010101; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish a violation of an OSHA standard pursuant to 5(a)(2), Complainant must establish (1) the standard applies; (2) the terms of the standard were violated; (3) employees were exposed to the hazard covered by the standard, and (4) the employer had actual or constructive knowledge of the violation (i.e., the employer knew or, with the exercise of reasonable diligence, could have known of the violative condition). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#010101; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Atlantic Battery Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#010101; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#010101; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#010101; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">16 BNA OSHC 2131, 2138 (No. 90-1747, 1994).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Complainant has the burden of establishing each element by a preponderance of the evidence.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Hartford Roofing Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 17 BNA OSHC 1361 (No. 92-3855, 1995). “Preponderance of the evidence” has been defined as:<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:16px; text-align:justify; margin-left:72px; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The greater weight of the evidence, not necessarily established by the greater number of witnesses testifying to a fact<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">but by evidence that has the most convincing force</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">; superior evidentiary weight that, though not sufficient to free the mind wholly from all reasonable doubt, is still sufficient to incline a fair and impartial mind to one side of the issue rather than the other. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Black’s Law Dictionary, “Preponderance of the Evidence” (10th ed. 2014) (emphasis added). </span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; color:#000000; padding-right:20px;">B.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span><span></span>
					</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Respondent’s Employment Relationship with the Exposed Employees</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_costarpage style_costarpage " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“[T]</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_costarpage style_costarpage " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he Secretary has the burden of proving that a cited respondent is the employer of<span>
						</span></span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_costarpage style_costarpage " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the affected workers at the site.” </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_costarpage style_costarpage " style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Allstate Painting & Contracting Co.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_costarpage style_costarpage " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 21 BNA OSHC 1033, 1035 (No. 97-1631, 2005), 2005 WL 682104 (2005). </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_costarpage style_costarpage " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Here, the government argues that, under<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_costarpage style_costarpage " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">OSHA’s multi-employer enforcement policy, Respondent is a liable employer. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>OSHA Instruction CPL 2-00-124, Multi-Employer Citation Policy (Dec. 10, 1999) (“CPL” or<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">m</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ulti-</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mployer<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">p</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">olicy”</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">). Based on the multi-employer policy, the government contends that Respondent is liable as both a “controlling” employer and an “exposing” employer</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref6" href="#ftn6">5</a></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; "><span><span></span>
						</span>A</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n employer may be responsible for the existence of a violation that endangers workers employed by other companies if th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">employer exercised control over the jobsite or created the hazardous condition.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">CPL<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">X(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">D</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">An e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">mployer whose own employees are exposed to a hazard can be liable as an exposing employer.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">CPL<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">X(</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; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Complainant</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>failed to establish that the exposed individuals were employed by Respondent. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Tr. 46</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 88, 96, 106, 128</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(testimony refuting that the individuals were Respondent’s employees)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Accordingly, the Court finds<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent is not liable as an exposing employer. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">However, even if an employer does not have its own employees exposed to a hazard, the employer can still be liable as a controlling employer under the multi-employer policy. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Commission and seven courts of appeals, including the D.C. Circuit,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">have upheld the multi-employer policy as a proper exercise of the Secretary’s statutory authority. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Summit Contractors, Inc. v. Sec’y of Labor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 442 Fed. Appx. 570, 571-72 (D.C. Cir. 2011);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Solis v. Summit Contractors, Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 558 F.3d 815, 818 (8th Cir. 2009);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Universal Const. Co. v. Occupational Safety & Health Review Comm</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">’</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 182 F.3d 726, 727-32 (10th Cir. 1999</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">); United States v. Pitt-Des Moines, Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 168 F.3d 976, 982 (7th Cir. 1999);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Teal v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 728 F.2d 799, 803-</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">8</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">04 (6th Cir. 1984);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Beatty Equip. Leasing, Inc. v. Sec’y of Labor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 577 F.2d 534, 536-37 (9th Cir. 1978);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Brennan v. OSHRC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 513 F.2d 1032, 1037-38 (2d Cir</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. 1975)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Under the multi-employer policy,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a “controlling employer” is</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">[a]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n employer who has general supervisory authority over the worksite, including the power to correct safety and health violations itself or require others to correct them. Control can be established by contract or, in the absence of explicit contractual provisions, by the exercise of control in practice</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>. . .</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">CPL at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">X(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">E</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Commission has held that an employer, which creates or controls a cited hazard, has a duty under § 5(a)(2) of the OSH Act, 29 U.S.C. § 666(a)(2), to protect its own employees and to protect those of other employers’ “engaged in the common undertaking.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">McDevitt Street<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Bovis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">, Inc.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 O.S.H. Cas. (BNA) 1108 (OSHRC, 2000), 2000 WL 35559662,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">citing</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-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Anning-Johnson</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 4 BNA OSHC 1193, 1199 (1976).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Here, Respondent’s Director of Operations, Stephen Merino, supervised the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 44, 71, 109-111, 114</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">He was on the worksite three or four days per week and he would be at the worksite ap</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">proximately an hour during each visit. (Tr. 44). His responsibilities included checking on the quality and quantity of the masonry block that Respondent was laying and checking to see if any additional materials were needed. (Tr. 55). In addition, Mr. Merino would check the worksite for safety issues. (Tr. 71). According to Mr. Merino, he shared responsibility with K.D. Construction to check for and bring up safety concerns to K.D. Construction</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to ensure that those on site</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">presumably the hired masonry crew</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>were working safely</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. (Tr. 63-64).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Mr. Merino could instruct an individual to put on fall protection, and if they refused, he would inform<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 65</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In view of this, the Court finds that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent exercised sufficient control of the masonry crew to qualify as a controlling employer. </span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:2; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">C.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Citation 1, Item 1</span></p>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:96px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:96px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">1.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">The Standard Applies</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="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="text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </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; ">29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2): The employer did not initiate and maintain programs which provided for frequent and regular inspections of the job site, materials and equipment to be made by a competent person(s):</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </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; ">On or about November 7, 2019, on the North side, second story balcony, at the job site located in 4720 NW 85th Avenue, Doral FL 33166, the employer did not inspect the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">jobsite to ensure employees were protected against falls, exposing the employees to a fall of 16 feet.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </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><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See 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><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</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; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Section 1926.20(b)(2) provides:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Such programs [as may be necessary to comply with this part] shall provide for frequent and regular inspections of the job sites, materials, and equipment to be made by competent persons designated by the employers.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; 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; ">In the parties’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Agreed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Prehearing Statement, t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he parties agreed the cited standard for Item 1</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; ">1926.20(b)(2))<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">is</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>applicable. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hus, t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Court finds that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">cited standard applies.</span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:96px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:96px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">2.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Failure to Comply with the Cited Standard</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; 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; ">The standard requires a designated competent person to conduct<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">frequent and regular<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">inspection</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of the worksite, materials, and equipment. At no point during the trial did the government inquire as to whether a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">competent person</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">”</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was present on site. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In its brief, the government argues that Mr. Merino and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>admitted that they had not conducted inspection of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site on the day before, or the day of, the accident. Comp. Brief at 16 (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">citing</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Tr. 73, 110-111). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Mr. Merin</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>testified as follows:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:76.8px; text-indent:-.762cm; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Did you do any – when I say, you, did Dade Builders do any inspections of the area prior to your – your crew’s going and performing work in an area?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Dade Bu</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ilders; no.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>So, you rely on the crew themselves –</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>The subcontractor.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>--to do any inspection.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Yes, the subcontractor. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 73</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The CSHO testified that Mr. Merino and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>informed him that they had not inspected the worksite on the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>day</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>before, or the day of, the accident. (Tr. 110-111). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Whether failure to inspect the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site for a two-day period constitutes a failure to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">initiate and maintain programs providing for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“frequent and regular” inspections<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">certainly debatable. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; margin-right:48px; 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; ">Mr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Merino</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>testified<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chem</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a</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; ">discussed the scope of the inspections<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was expected to perform, including things such as impalement hazards, capping off the exposed rebar, and covering holes in the floors. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 76</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">-77</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">While<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent did not require the crew to do anything specifically to document the inspections, (Tr. 77),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">there is no requirement in Section 1926.20(b)(2) for “frequent and regular inspections” to be documented. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Further, according to Mr. Merino, Respondent had a subcontractor that performs inspections for Respondent on a biweekly basis. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 77</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Mr. Merino testified that the subcontractor, Michael Iles, would visit Respondent’s jobsites once every other week to ensure that “all safety measures are up to OSHA standard.” (Tr. 77). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As Mr. Merino explained: “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">He is inspecting that scaffolding is</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; ">erected properly and all tie-offs, all phases of tie-offs are in the correct spot, and that all the masons</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; ">and laborers are tying off when needed</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.” (Tr. 78). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Moreover, he testified</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the subcontractor would generate safety reports</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, that he reviewed those reports as they came in, and that the reports would show that they were safety compliant. (Tr. 78-79). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; margin-right:48px; 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; ">Certainly</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, an employer cannot merely “contract away its legal duties to its employees or its ultimate responsibility under the Act by requiring another party to perform them.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Baker Tank Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 17 O.S.H. Cas. (BNA) 1177, 1180 (No. 90-1786-S,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1005), 1995 WL 216828, *4. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">While</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>an employer may carry out its duties through its own private arrangements with third parties, if those duties are neglected, the employer must show why it cannot enforce the arrangements that were made. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">24 O.S.H. Cas. (BNA) 1153 (OSHRC 2013), 2013 WL 5505282 at *14<span>
						</span></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; ">quoting</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-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Central of Georgia R.R. Co. v. OSHRC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 576 F.2d 620, 624 (5th Cir. 1978).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Thus, here, Respondent may not<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">wholly<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">unburden itself from the responsibility of frequent and regular inspections by cont</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">r</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">acting that duty away to others, including K.D.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Construction<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">and/or<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Indeed, if the duties were not performed, Respondent must show why it could not enforce the agreements that were made. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">However, importantly, the government has not shown that those duties were not performed.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; margin-right:48px; 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; ">Thus</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, the threshold question<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">remains:</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">whether</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Respondent either individually or through its contracted party fail</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>to initiate and maintain a program providing for frequent and regular inspections</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>by a competent person</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The requisite evidence by the government on this point is simply lacking</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The government has not shown that Respondent’s program did not provide for frequent and regular inspections. Instead, it has shown that Respondent actually had a written safety program, although it was not provided as evidence</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and that as part of Respondent’s program it had contracted a third-party to inspect the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site biweekly and prepare safety reports. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 176-181). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">While the government could of course argue that such inspections were insufficient, and thus neither frequent nor regular, the government has provided no evidence justifying such a conclusion. Rather, the government’s position seems to rest on testimony that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent did not inspect the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site on the day before and the day of the accident. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Comp. Brief at 16.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>However, while S</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ection 1926.20(b)(2) requires that the competent person conduct </span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">frequent and regular in</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">spections of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the standard<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">does not set a specific schedule for the inspections</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, does not require inspections to be document</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ed</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, and does not require<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the competent person maintain a continuous presence on the site</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Moreover,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the government produced no evidence regarding when th</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">e</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>third-party<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">contractor<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">conducted the inspections (or evidence refuting that such inspections occurred),</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>whether the inspections were unannounced,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>how long such inspections lasted, and what was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">found during the inspections.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The government also neither argued nor presented evidence that the third-party contractor was not a competent person. Without such evidence, t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">his Court will not attempt to surmise the scope and extent of the inspections made by Respondent’s contractor</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>or whether the contractor qualified as a competent person under the standard</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As the government has failed to resolve this question through proffered evidence,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the record does not support a finding of inadequate inspection or incompetence of inspecting personnel. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Thus</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Court finds that the government has not</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>met its burden of showing that Respondent violated the standard. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Accordingly, this item is vacated.</span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:2; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">D.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Citation 1, Item 2</span></p>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:96px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:96px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">1.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">The Standard Applies</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Based on the parties’<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Agreed<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Prehearing Statement, the parties<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">have<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">agreed t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">hat t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he cited standard for Item<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">is applicable. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Under<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">29 C.F.R. § 1926.501(b)(1), “[e]ach employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge which was 6 feet [] or more above a lower level” must be protected by at least one of three designated fall protection methods (guard rail</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; ">s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ystem</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Here, employees were working on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">a surface that was next to an unprotected edge with a potential fall of 16 feet. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Accordingly, b</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">y its terms, the standard applies. </span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:96px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:96px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">2.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Failure to Comply with the Cited Standard</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Section 1926.501(b)(1) requires one of three methods of fall protection: </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">guard rail</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; ">s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ystem</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">While there is some question whether<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">such</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>fall protection measures were in place prior to the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">accident, the evidence adduced at trial demonstrates that none of the three forms of fall protection were being used by the employees at the time of the accident. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; 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><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Certainly, guardrails were present at the time the CSHO inspected the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site approximately four days after the accident. (Ex. R-4 at 1-3, 6-9, 13, 15-16; Tr. 116-117). However,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he CSHO testified that there was not a wooden barrier at the location where the workers were laying blocks at the time of the accident. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 114</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. While the CSHO did not personally observe the violative condition, the CSHO testified that he asked K.D.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Construction’</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s safety director, a safety manager on site, and a consultant, all of whom were present immediately after the accident, and they all informed the CSHO that there was no barrier present. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Tr. 114-115</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">None of these individuals interviewed by the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">CSHO testified at trial. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; 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; ">As the trial of this ma</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">t</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ter proceeded under the Simplified Proceedings, the Federal Rules of Evidence did not apply. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Commission Rule 200 (29 C.F</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">R, § 2200.200)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Thus, as the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Federal Rules of Evidence do not apply in Simplified Proceedings, hearsay is admissible, “[p]</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">rovided</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>it is relevant and material,” and under certain circumstances, “can constitute substantial evidence.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Bobo v. United States Dept. of Agriculture</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 52 F.3d 1406, 1414 (6th Cir.1995) (citation omitted).</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; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Accordingly, for purposes of this element, the Court credits the testimony of the CSHO and finds that the cited standard was violated on the day of the accident. </span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:96px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:2; text-align:justify; margin-left:96px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; text-align:justify; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">3.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Respondent’s Employees Were Exposed to the Hazard</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>As discussed in part IV(B),<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; ">, Respondent was responsible<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">to protect the exposed employees in this case, as Respondent was a controlling employer which exercised sufficient control over the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In order to meet its burden of establishing employee exposure to the hazard, the government “must show that it is reasonably predictable either by operational necessity or otherwise (including inadvertence), that employees have been, are, or will be in the zone of danger.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Delek</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Ref., Ltd</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 25 BNA OSHC 1365, 1376 (No. 08-1386, 2015) (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">citing Fabricated Metal Prods., Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 18 BNA OSHC 1074. The zone of danger is the “area surrounding the violative condition that presents the danger to employees.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Boh</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Bros. Constr. Co., LLC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 24 BNA OSHC 1067, 1085 (No. 09-1072, 2013) (</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">citing RGM Constr. Co</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 17 BNA OSHC 1229, 1234 (No. 91-2107, 1995)). In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Gilles &<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Cotting</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 3 BNA OSHC 2002, 2003 (No. 504, 1976), the Commission noted that “the zone or zones of danger will be determined by the hazards presented by the violative condition.”</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Here, there is no question that employees were working at the</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site and were laying cement blocks on the edge of a floor that was approximately 16 feet above ground level. </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; ">See</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Agreed Prehearing Statement at 4</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">B</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ased on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the assigned working duties and workplaces, it is reasonably predictable that the employees would be in the zone of danger and thus exposed to the fall hazard. </span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:96px; text-indent:-.635cm; line-height:2; margin-left:96px; text-indent:-.635cm; widows:2; orphans:2; line-height:2; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">4.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Respondent</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">’s<span>
					</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Knowledge of the Conditions</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">T</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">o establish knowledge, the government must prove that Respondent “knew or, with the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have known of the hazardous conditions constituting the violation.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">S.J. Louis Constr. of Texas</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 25 BNA OSHC 1892 (No. 12-1045, 2016). According to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Commission,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“Reasonable diligence involves consideration of several factors, including the employer</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">’</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s obligation to have adequate work rules and training programs, to adequately supervise employees, to anticipate hazards, and to take measures to prevent the occurrence of violations.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Danis</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Shook Joint Venture XXV</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC 1497, 1501 (No. 98-1192, 2001),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">aff'd</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 319 F.3d 805 (6th Cir. 2003).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> The obligation to inspect (i.e., adequate supervision) for hazards “requires a careful and critical examination, and is not satisfied by a mere opportunity to view equipment.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Hamilton Fixture</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 16 BNA OSHC 1079, 1087 (No. 88-1720, 1993).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In arguing that Respondent had actual knowledge of the violative condition, the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">government relies principally upon hearsay statement</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>obtained by the CSHO during his inspection. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Comp. Brief at 24-25. Specifically, the CSHO testified about statements made by<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">: </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Q.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>All right. So, my question was, what did<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>tell you during that first discussion you had with him?</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">A.<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; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>told me that he had a crew of four, including himself, and they were down to -- hired there to lay block on the second floor. And basically the people that had been directing him was Stephen. At that point, I didn’t even know a last name, they just knew a Stephen. And<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">basically</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>they told me they hadn’t inspected the site the day before. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-left:72px; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">And the day of the accident they were just told like to tie off to whatever you can, you know? If we don’t have any anchor points, use a rebar if you can. And said that some people had lanyards, some people had yo-yos.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; margin-right:48px; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 109). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; margin-right:48px; 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>While hearsay testimony is admissible in Simplified Proceedings, the Court must still determine the underlying reliability and probative value of the testimony. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See e.g.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><a href="https://1.next.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&serNum=1976103978&pubNum=0000350&originatingDoc=I1123d544a08611e4a795ac035416da91&refType=RP&fi=co_pp_sp_350_906&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.UserEnteredCitation)#co_pp_sp_350_906"><span class="style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-size:12pt; ">School Bd. of Broward<span>
							</span></span><span class="style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-size:12pt; ">Cnty</span><span class="style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-size:12pt; ">. v. Dep't of Health, Educ. & Welfare</span><span class="style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-size:12pt; "><span class="IDB0XIJFZLAOGWBUN4NODIB1ZHJY3HXBKLLGXYIALITWEIC5NAEB">, 525 F. 2d 900, 906 (5th Cir. 1976)</span></span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> Thus, while<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the Federal Rules of Evidence do not apply in Simplified<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Proceedings, they nonetheless provide guidance regarding the types of evidence that may<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">be<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">less reliable. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See e.g</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., </span><span class="style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-size:12pt; ">Lacinaj</span><span class="style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; font-size:12pt; "> v. Ashcroft</span><span class="style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-size:12pt; ">, 133 F. </span><span class="style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-size:12pt; ">App</span><span class="style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-size:12pt; ">’</span><span class="style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-size:12pt; ">x</span><span class="style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-size:12pt; "> 276, 287 (6th Cir. 2005)</span><span class="style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="font-size:12pt; color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline ;font-size:12pt; "></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Here, the declarant,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, did not testify in this case. Thus, Respondent had no opportunity to cross-examine the witness.</span><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref7" href="#ftn7">6</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">As the witness did not testify at trial and neither evidence of service of a subpoena<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">n</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or enforcement of a subpoena was provided, the Court finds the out-of-court statements<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">pertaining to Respondent’s knowledge of the violative condition<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">unreliable and affords them little weight. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; 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></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Moreover,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">conflicting evidence exists related to Respondent’s purported</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>actual</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>knowledge of the violative condition. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Stephen Merino testified that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he believed that the masonry crew was using fall protection on the day of the accident. (Tr. 59). </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">He further stated at trial</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that he saw the masonry crew with harnesses on, and<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">saw a lanyard sticking out from the back, from behind them,”</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>however, he did not see to where the crew was tied off. (Tr. 59).</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Thus, in the light of such live testimony juxtaposed with the hearsay testimony, the Court finds that the Secretary has failed to show actual knowledge of the violative condition. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the alternative, the government contends that Respondent had constructive knowledge that adequate fall protection did not exist. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Comp. Brief at 25</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">To establish constructive knowledge, the Secretary must prove “that the ‘employer ... could have known with the exercise of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">reasonable diligence</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of the conditions constituting the violation.’”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Contour Erection & Siding Sys., Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">.,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>22 BNA OSHC 1072, 1073, 2004-09 CCH OSHD ¶ 32,943, p. 53,787 (No. 06-0792,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">2007) (citation omitted).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Whether an employer has exercised reasonable diligence is a question of fact that “will vary with the facts of each case.” </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Martin v. OSHRC</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 947 F.2d 1483, 1484 (11th Cir. 1991);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also</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-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Centex-Rooney Constr. Co.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 16 BNA OSHC 2127, 2129 (No. 92–0851, 1994) (finding that a preponderance of the evidence established the cited employer was reasonably diligent);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Precision Concrete Constr.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 19 BNA OSHC 1404, 1407 (No. 99-0707, 2001) (noting that Secretary has burden of identifying what reasonable diligence required).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Stephen Merino testified that he saw the accident occur. (Tr. 60). He also explained that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">he saw the masonry crew with harnesses on, and “</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">saw a lanyard sticking out from the back, from behind them,”</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>however, he did not see to where the crew was tied off. (Tr. 59). The Secretary, however, argues that he did not go to the second floor on the day of the accident and could not specifically see whether the crew was wearing proper fall protection gear and tied off. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Comp. Brief at 25</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. Thus, the Secretary argues that he, and thus Respondent, should have known of the lack of fall protection measures on the mason crew’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>However, the government proffered no testimony or other evidence on how long the violative condition existed. While the CSHO testified that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Chema</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>had informed him that the crew had been working on the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">work</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">site that day for about two hours,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 123), no evidence was presented regarding whether fall protection was being utilized during that two-hour period. In the absence of clear evidence of the duration of the violative condition, the Court finds that the government has not established that Respondent had constructive knowledge. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See</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-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Kaspar</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Wire Works, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 18 BNA OSHC 2178, 2196-97, 2000 CCH OSHD ¶ 32,134, p. 48,422 (No. 90-2775, 2000) (concluding that “in the absence of any evidence indicating how long the violative conditions had been in existence, we are unable to evaluate whether [the employer] could have known of them even if it had been reasonably diligent in inspecting its equipment”),</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>aff’d</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 268<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">F.3d 1123 (D.C. Cir. 2001);<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Ragnar Benson, Inc</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., 18 BNA OSHC 1937, 1940, 1999 CCH OSHD ¶ 31,932, p. 47,373 (No. 97-1676, 1999) (concluding that constructive knowledge was not shown where lack of evidence of violation’s duration precluded Commission from determining whether employer could have known of conditions with exercise of reasonable diligence).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">V.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><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; ">Conclusion</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; 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; ">It is<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the government’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">burden to establish</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>each element of its case, including the employment relationship between Respondent</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; ">and the exposed employees</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, violation</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of the applicable standards, and Respondent’s knowledge of any violative condition</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. As discussed herein, the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">lack of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">evidence at trial</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, including the failure to illicit the testimony of a key witness relied upon by the government, created an evidentiary record consisting of unanswered questions and vagaries. </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">In view of the evidence discussed above, the Court finds that Complainant failed to meet its<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">burden. Accordingly, the Citation items proposed in this case are VACATED.</span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; ">
				<span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; color:#212121; padding-right:20px;">I.</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Order</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is ORDERED that</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Citation 1, Items 1 and 2</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,</span><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>are hereby VACATED.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="line-height:2; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">SO ORDERED.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; margin-left:24px; widows:2; orphans:2; "> </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> </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:18pt; font-family:Monotype Corsiva; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Monotype Corsiva; font-size:18pt; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline ;">/s/</span><span style="font-size:18pt; font-family:Monotype Corsiva; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Monotype Corsiva; font-size:18pt; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline ;"><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; ">Christopher D. Helms</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>Judge, OSHRC</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Date:</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> April 13, 2020</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Denver, Colorado</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></span></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>
					<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_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">1 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The parties’<span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">Agreed Prehearing Statement</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>represents that the worksite was located at 472 NW 85</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">th</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Ave., Doral, Florida 33178. However, the Citation notes the Inspection Site as 4720 NW 85</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">th</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Avenue, Doral, Florida 33178. Further, Complainant’s brief represents the worksite as 472 NW 85th Ave., (Complainant’s Brief at 3), but Respondent notes the location as 4720 NW 85th Avenue, (Respondent’s Brief at 3). While there appears to be a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">scrivener’s</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; "><span><span></span>
						</span>error in one or more of these documents, the parties have not raised the worksite location as an issue. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn3" href="#ftnref3"><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">2 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>In the Agreed Prehearing Statement, the parties represented that the work<span>
					</span>activity occurred on November 16, 2018. However, the Citation items reference November 7, 2018, as the date of the alleged violation. Further, it appears the parties<span>
					</span>have<span>
					</span>recognized this inconsistency, and have since agreed that November 7, 2018, the date of the Citation, is the correct date to use. (Comp. Brief at 3 n.1).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn4" href="#ftnref4"><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">3 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>While the government’s witness testified that he inspected the worksite four days after the incident, and that the inspection occurred in November, the government did not present specific evidence of the date of the incident or the date of the inspection at trial. (Tr. 141-142). However, based on the government’s brief, the parties have agreed that November 7, 2018, the date identified in the Citation, is the date of the alleged violation, and not November 16, 2018, a date identified in the parties’ Agreed Prehearing Statement. (Comp. Brief at 3<span><span></span>
					</span>n.1).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn5" href="#ftnref5"><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">4 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The CSHO testified that he obtained this information from “the safety director for K.D. Construction, and safety manager that they had on site, as well as a consultant for Greystar.” Tr. 114. None of the identified individuals testified at trial. </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn6" href="#ftnref6"><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; ">5 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The government contends that the CPL provides that an employer may be a “controlling employer” if it exercised control over the jobsite<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">or created the hazardous condition</span>. Comp. Brief at 11. However, the multi-employer policy makes a distinction between “creating” employers and “controlling” employers. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span><span></span>
					</span>CPL at X(B) and X(E). </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn7" href="#ftnref7"><span class="style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">6 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">The Secretary noted at the beginning of trial that, although they did not appear, the government had subpoenaed the owner of Lexis and its foreman (Chema). (Tr. 11-12;<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">see also</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Tr. 113).</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">However, t</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">he<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Secretary did not provide evidence of service of a subpoena. (Tr. 41). The Court inquired whether the government had a telephone number to contact the witnesses and noted that the Court would afford the government time during a break to contact the witnesses. (Tr. 41-42). As an interpreter for the government appeared for one or both witnesses, the Court inquired of the interpreter’s name in the event that the government wanted to enforce any subpoena. (Tr.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">1</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">12-113).</span></p>
			</div></div></body>
</html>