OSHA Inspection: SOUND CONSTRUCTION INC.

Issued

2025-12-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16550.00 · Current $16550.00

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1): A portable ladder was used for access to an upper landing surface and the ladder side rails did not extend at least 3 feet (.9 m) above the upper landing surface to which the ladder was used to gain access.  Location: 103 West Broad Street, Stamford, CT  On or about June 12, 2025, the employer failed to ensure that the side rails of an 8-foot ladder used for egress from an approximately 10-foot-deep excavation reached at least three feet past the surface, exposing an employee to cave-in hazards in the event that an emergency escape was necessary.

Issued

2025-12-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16550.00 · Current $16550.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(20): Employees were not facing the ladder when ascending or descending the ladder.  Location: 103 West Broad Street, Stamford, CT  On or about June 13, 2025, the employer failed to ensure that employees entering an approximately 10-foot-deep excavation faced the 24-foot extension ladder while entering an excavation. Facing away from the ladder while descending exposed the employees to fall and struck-by hazards.

Issued

2025-12-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16550.00 · Current $16550.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(21): An employee was not grasping the ladder with at least one hand when progressing up and/or down the ladder.  Location: 103 West Broad Street, Stamford, CT  On or about June 13, 2025, the employer failed to ensure that employees using a 24-foot Werner extension ladder to access an approximately 10-foot deep excavation, grasped the ladder with at least one hand while descending, which exposed him to fall and struck-by hazards.

Issued

2025-12-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-01-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16550.00 · Current $16550.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1060(a): The employer did not provide a training program for each employee using ladders and stairways, as necessary, which would train each employee in the procedures to be followed to minimize hazards related to ladders and stairways.  Location: 103 West Broad Street, Stamford, CT  The employer did not provide effective ladder safety training to ensure employees could recognize and avoid hazards associated with ladder use during trenching and excavation work.  Instance #1 On or about June 12, 2025, the employer failed to ensure that the escape ladder chosen to be used in an approximately 10-foot-deep excavation was tall enough so that the side rails extended at least three feet past the upper landing surface. The Foreman was exposed to cave-in hazards while working in the excavation with an eight-foot egress ladder that did not reach at least three feet past the upper landing area.  Instance #2 On or about June 13, 2025, the employer failed to  ensure that employees using a ladder to enter and exit an approximately 10-foot-deep excavation were given adequate ladder safety training so the employees would be able to recognize and avoid hazards related to ladder use. The Foreman and a laborer descended into the excavation while facing away from the ladder. The employees also did not grasp the ladder with at least one hand. The employees were exposed to fall and struck-by hazards.

Issued

2025-12-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-01-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $165514.00 · Current $165514.00

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2): The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his/her environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.  The employer does not ensure that employees receive adequate training to recognize and avoid the hazards associated with working in and around trenches and excavations.  Location: 103 West Broad Street, Stamford, CT  Instance #1 This violation was observed on or about June 12, 2025, where the employer did not ensure that an employee who was working in a 10-foot-deep unprotected excavation was adequately trained to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions associated with cave-in hazards while working in and around excavations. The employee was exposed to cave-in hazards while grading the floor of the unprotected excavation that was dug in previously disturbed and unclassified soil. The employee was also exposed to cave-in and crushing hazards when the excavator operator positioned the excavator at the edge of the excavation above him.    OSHA previously issued this employer a serious citation for a violation of this standard, 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2) during inspection #1718126, with a final order date of 2/27/2025. The inspection was opened due to an employee fatality.  To abate this violation, the employer must provide adequate trenching and excavation training for all employees and competent person training for designated competent persons.  Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps they are taking to ensure compliance; including an explanation of how these steps protect employees from trenching and excavation hazards.

Issued

2025-12-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-01-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $165514.00 · Current $165514.00

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.21(b)(2):The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his/her environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.  The employer does not ensure that employees receive adequate training to recognize and avoid the hazards associated with working in and around trenches and excavations.  Location: 103 West Broad Street, Stamford, CT  Instance #2 This violation was most recently observed on or about June 13, 2025, where the employer did not ensure that employees working in a 10-foot-deep unprotected excavation were adequately trained to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions associated with cave-in hazards while working in and around excavations. Employees were exposed to cave-in hazards while working in unprotected areas of an excavation and within a trench shield that was installed approximately four-feet below the surface of the excavation and not back-filled. The employees were also exposed to cave-in and crushing hazards as the President operated the excavator at the edge of the excavation above them.   OSHA previously issued this employer a serious citation for a violation of this standard, 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2) during inspection #1718126, with a final order date of 2/27/2025. The inspection was opened due to an employee fatality.  To abate this violation, the employer must provide adequate trenching and excavation training for all employees and competent person training for designated competent persons.  Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps they are taking to ensure compliance; including an explanation of how these steps protect employees from trenching and excavation hazards.

Issued

2025-12-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $165514.00 · Current $165514.00

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(j)(2): Employees are not protected from excavated or other materials or equipment that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into excavations. Protection shall be provided by placing and keeping such materials or equipment at least 2 feet (.61 m) from the edge of excavations, or by the use of retaining devices that are sufficient to prevent materials or equipment from falling or rolling into excavations, or by a combination of both if necessary.  The employer does not protect employees from the hazards of equipment falling or rolling into occupied excavations caused by added surcharge loads imposed by the excavator.  Location: 103 West Broad Street, Stamford, CT  Instance #1 This violation was most recently observed on or about June 12, 2025, where the employer failed to ensure that the Foreman was protected from struck-by and cave-in hazards while a Kubota excavator was operating with one of its tracks positioned on the edge of the excavation wall. The excavator had no restraint to keep it from rolling or falling into the occupied excavation. The Foreman was grading the floor of an approximately 10-foot-deep excavation while the excavator added to the surcharge load imposed on the excavation walls above him.  Instance #2 This violation was most recently observed on or about June 13, 2025, where the President operated the excavator with the tracks positioned on the edge of the occupied excavation, which exposed the Foreman, the Operator and  Laborer to struck-by and cave-in hazards due to the added surcharge load.  OSHA previously issued this employer a willful citation for a violation of this standard, 29 CFR 1926.651(j)(2) during inspection #1718126, with a final order date of 2/27/2025. The inspection was opened due to an employee fatality.  OSHA previously issued this employer a serious citation for a violation of this standard, 29 CFR 1926.651(j)(2) during inspection #123165631, with a final order date of 4/6/1994.  To abate this violation, the employer must provide adequate trenching and excavation training for all employees and competent person training for designated competent persons.  Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps they are taking to ensure compliance; including an explanation of how the employer will keep material and equipment at least two feet from the edge of an excavation.

Issued

2025-12-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $165514.00 · Current $165514.00

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(k)(1): Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems are not made by a competent person for evidence of a situation that could have resulted in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions.  The employer does not ensure that a competent person conducts daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems so possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions are detected.  Location: 103 West Broad Street, Stamford, CT  This violation was most recently observed on or about June 12, 2025, where the employer did not ensure that a competent person conducted a daily inspection of an approximately 10-foot-deep excavation to determine possible hazards. The excavation had no cave-in protection which exposed the Foreman to cave-in and struck-by hazards while he was working in the unprotected excavation as the excavator was positioned with one of its tracks at the edge of the excavation.  OSHA previously issued this employer a serious citation for a violation of this standard, 29 CFR 1926.651(k)(1) during inspection #1156285, with a final order date of 7/17/2017.  Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps they are taking to ensure compliance; including an explanation of how these steps protect employees from trenching and excavation hazards.

Issued

2025-12-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $165514.00 · Current $165514.00

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(a)(1): Each employee in an excavation is not protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.652 (b) or (c).  Location: 103 West Broad Street, Stamford, CT  The employer does not protect employees from cave-in hazards when working in and around open excavations greater than five feet in depth.  Instance #1 This violation was most recently observed on or about June 12, 2025, where the Foreman was exposed to cave-in hazards while grading the floor of an approximately 10-foot-deep unprotected excavation. No protective system was in place to protect the employee. A Kubota KX080-4 excavator was operating with one of its tracks positioned on the edge of the excavation wall adding a surcharge load which increased the possibility of a cave-in.  Instance #2 This violation was most recently observed on or about June 13, 2025, where the Foreman, Operator and Laborer were exposed to cave-in hazards while working in an approximately 10-foot-deep excavation when the employer failed to use a four-sided trench shield for cave-in protection. The employees were also exposed to cave-in hazards when they were standing on the escape ladder or the shield components, which placed them between the top of the excavation walls and the top of the trench shield walls.  OSHA previously issued this employer a willful citation for a violation of this standard, 29 CFR 1926.651(j)(2) during inspection #1718126, with a final order date of 2/27/2025. The inspection was opened due to an employee fatality.  OSHA previously issued this employer a serious citation for a violation of this standard, 29 CFR 1926.652(a)(1) during inspection #1156285, with a final order date of 7/17/2017.  OSHA previously issued this employer a serious citation for a violation of this standard, 29 CFR 1926.652(a)(1) during inspection #123165631, with a final order date of 4/6/1994.  To abate this violation, the employer must provide and ensure use of cave-in protection when employees are working in excavations five feet or greater in depth.  Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps they are taking to ensure compliance; including an explanation of how these steps protect employees from an excavation wall collapse or cave-in.

Issued

2025-12-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $165514.00 · Current $165514.00

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(d)(2): Manufactured materials and equipment used for protective systems are not used and maintained in a manner that was consistent with the recommendations of the manufacturer, and in a manner that will prevent employee exposure to hazards.  The employer does not protect employees from cave-in and struck-by hazards by failing to ensure that the manufacturer's recommendation of installing a trench shield no lower than flush with the excavation surface is followed prior to employees entering excavations. The recommendation is listed in the tabulated data sheet.  Location: 103 West Broad Street, Stamford, CT  This violation was most recently observed on or about June 13, 2025, where the employer did not ensure that manufacturer's recommendation found in the tabulated data sheet was followed when the top of the company owned modular trench shield was set approximately four feet below the excavation surface, which exposed the Foreman, Operator and Laborer to cave-in and struck-by hazards. The approximately six-foot tall trench shield was placed at the bottom of an excavation that measured approximately 10-feet-deep. The trench shield was also not backfilled prior to employees entering the excavation, as stated in the tabulated data sheet.  To abate this violation, the employer must follow the manufacturer's recommendations in the tabulated data sheet for the installation and use of trench shields.  Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps they are taking to ensure compliance; including an explanation of how these steps protect employees from trenching and excavation hazards.

Issued

2025-12-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $165514.00 · Current $165514.00

Hazardous substances S777

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.652(g)(1)(ii): Shields are not installed in a manner to restrict lateral or other hazardous movement of the shield in the event of the application of sudden lateral loads.   The employer does ensure that trench shields are backfilled to protect against lateral or hazardous movement in the event of sudden lateral or hazardous loads, such as a collapse of the excavation walls.  Location: 103 West Broad Street, Stamford, CT  This violation was most recently observed on or about June 13, 2025, where the employer installed a  trench shield that in an approximately 10-foot-deep excavation. He did not backfill the space between the excavation and the trench shield walls to protect against lateral or hazardous loads. The excavation was dug in unclassified and previously disturbed soil. The Foreman, Operator and Laborer who entered the excavation were exposed to crushing and struck-by hazards while working with in the excavation.  To abate this violation, the employer must backfill trench shields to protect against hazardous or lateral movement.  Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps they are taking to ensure compliance; including an explanation of how these steps protect employees from trenching and excavation hazards.