January 2007 - Scaffolding Deaths Cost Contractor Nearly $2.4 Million in OSHA Fines

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited a painting contractor $2,362,500 for 33 willful and eight serious violations of job safety and health standards. The citations resulted from the investigation of two fatal workplace accidents within two months involving the painting contractor. Both accidents occurred at the same bridge-painting worksite and the same suspended scaffold. One employee died when he fell through a hole in the platform while he was painting. The other employee fell to his death while dismantling the scaffold.

Citations were issued for a lack of fall protection and training for employees, especially in the use of fall protection and the safe dismantling of the scaffold. The contractor was also cited for a lack of safe scaffold access and that a qualified person did not design the scaffold, nor were there competent persons to supervise the work.

For more details, see the announcement at www.dol.gov/_sec/laboradvocate/2006-winter.htm#6.

COPYRIGHT ©2007, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

The information contained in this publication was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. ISO Services Properties, Inc., its companies and employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with either the information herein contained or the safety suggestions herein made. Moreover, it cannot be assumed that every acceptable safety procedure is contained herein or that abnormal or unusual circumstances may not warrant or require further or additional procedure.