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OSHA Fines Company $125,000
Following Fatality of Refuse Collection Employee
The U.S. Department of Labor's
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited
a refuse collection service for two alleged willful violations
and proposed penalties totaling $125,000 following an employee
fatality in November 2006.
An employee sustained fatal
injuries when a six-yard refuse collection container swung free
from the back of a collection truck, crushing the employee between
the truck and the container.
"The company failed
to protect its employees from known hazards which contributed
to the death of an employee engaged in refuse collection,”
said Charles E. Adkins, CIH, OSHA's regional administrator in
Kansas City, Mo. "The citations and penalties OSHA is announcing
today will ensure that this employer takes responsibility to
correct safety and health hazards. All employers should evaluate
their workplaces to ensure employees are operating equipment
safely.”
The willful citations allege
that the employer failed to maintain trunnion safety latches
on a mobile refuse collection vehicle and to maintain a safety
latch on container lifting hooks. Willful violations are those
committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference
to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act
and regulations.
The firm has 15 working days
from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply,
request and participate in an informal conference with the OSHA
area director, or contest the citations and penalties before
the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Source: OSHA News Release 5/11/07
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