OSHA proposes $159,600 in penalties after fatal high-rise fall

2009-12-15 02:29:26 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Construction Accidents, Justice News Flash)

Wiki Image: OSHA proposes fines against four contractors after the death of three workers.

Legal News for Texas construction accident attorneys. OSHA proposes fines against four contractors after the death of three workers.

Construction accident lawyer- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed fines against four contractors after fatal accident in Austin, Texas.

Austin, TX—The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) http://www.osha.gov/ is currently proposing hefty penalties against four contractors, after three workers were killed at a high-rise construction site on December 9, 2009. The fines are being issued for violations of alleged safety guidelines and procedures at the 21 Rio construction project on Rio Grande Street in Austin, as reported by Occupational Health and Safety.

OSHA’s Austin area office is proposing $36,400.00 in fines against the Margate, FL-based Capoera Construction LLC, who employed the three workers that tragically died after the scaffolding they were working on suddenly collapsed from underneath them, causing them to fall over 100 feet to their deaths. An investigation beginning on June 10th led OSHA investigators to levy fines for two serious violations such as, failing to develop and implement a safety and health program, and failing to provide a competent person to inspect the scaffold prior to use; in addition to two repeat violations of failing to provide adequate fall protection systems, and failing to adequately train workers to recognize scaffolding hazards.

Mast Climber Manufacturing Inc., who conducts business as American Mast Climbers, which is the owner and installer of the scaffolding system, has proposed penalties of $86,800.00 levied against them with a willful citation for failing to have scaffolds designed by a qualified person, constructed by a qualified person, and failing to load the scaffold in accordance with the specific design. In addition, they were cited for eight serious violations of failing to provide scaffolding equipment capable of holding four times the maximum intended load, neglecting to supply a competent person to inspect the scaffold and its components, and neglecting to repair or remove damaged scaffold parts.

The general contractor, Andres Construction Services LLC, and the contractor for the building exterior, Greater Metroplex Interiors Inc., were cited for four serious violations. They were cited for failing to supply a competent person to inspect the scaffold and its components, and neglecting to train their workers on the use of the scaffolding system on the job site. Andres has $14,000.00 in proposed penalties, while Greater Metroplex Interiors has $22,400.00 in proposed penalties.

A spokesperson for OHSA stated, “If the scaffolding parts had been inspected and replace or repaired as needed, it is possible that his tragic accident and loss of life could have been avoided.”

Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for Texas construction accident lawyers.