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OSHA Proposes $120,500 in
Fines for New Jersey Contractor
Potentially fatal 18 and
27 foot falls at a Norwich, Connecticut residential construction
site have led to $120,500 in proposed fines for a Newark, New
Jersey based residential framing contractor. The U.S. Department
of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
has cited the contractor for 15 alleged violations of safety
standards following an inspection begun October 31, 2006.
Upon arriving at the South
Thames Street worksite, OSHA inspectors observed employees working
without required fall protection, including one employee exposed
to a 27 foot fall. The inspection also found employees exposed
to 18 foot falls from ladders of insufficient height.
This inspection resulted
in the contractor being issued two repeat citations, with $80,000
in proposed fines. OSHA issues a repeat citation when an employer
has been cited for similar hazards in the past. In 2004 and 2005,
the contractor was cited for similar hazards at worksites in
North Haven and Milford, Connecticut.
"Falls are the number
one killer in construction," said C. William Freeman III,
OSHA's area director in Hartford. "Effective fall protection
is absolutely essential for protecting employees against death
or disabling injuries. There is no good reason for this contractor's
failure to provide fall protection."
Other fall hazards found
at the jobsite included a defective stepladder, a wooden pallet
used instead of a ladder to access a work area, lack of inspection
of ladders for defects, missing handrails and not training employees
to recognize fall hazards. The inspection also identified a damaged
lifting sling; lack of head, hand and eye protection; ungrounded
electrical cords and receptacles; absence of fire extinguishers
and lack of hazard communication training. Additionally, the
jobsite was littered with scrap lumber with protruding nails.
These conditions resulted
in the issuance of 13 serious citations, carrying $37,500 in
proposed fines. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or
serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about
which the employer knew or should have known.
The contractor has 15 business
days from receipt of its citations to request and participate
in an informal conference with OSHA's area director or to contest
the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and
Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's
Hartford Area Office, telephone (860) 240-3152.
Source: OSHA News Release 5/01/07
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