OSHA has leveled almost a half-million dollars in fines to a Philadelphia-area construction company for exposing workers to shock and fall hazards. Two company workers were shocked on the job in 2011 and 2013.
In November 2014, OSHA received a report of workers in imminent danger at a construction site in Philadelphia. Inspectors found DMAC Construction LLC workers were allowed to build a scaffold too close to power lines and without properly bracing to prevent a collapse.
Less than three weeks later, OSHA was notified of another imminent danger at a second DMAC work site. Workers were laying bricks 35 feet above the ground without fall protection.
OSHA cited the company for eight violations, seven of them willful and one repeat, for a total of $470,300. Seven of the citations were for scaffolding violations. One was for failure to develop, implement and maintain a hazard communication program and maintain safety data sheets for employee use.
“These hazards are not new to DMAC Construction,” said Nicholas DeJesse, director of OSHA’s Philadelphia Area Office. “This employer must take immediate action to prevent an unnecessary tragedy.”
DeJesse was referring to two incidents experienced by DMAC workers in recent years. Two employees received electric shocks in separate incidents in 2011 and 2013. Companies under owner Darren McGee’s control have been cited for more than 40 scaffolding violations since 2008. DMAC and another company under McGee’s control have both been placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program which mandates follow-up inspections.
DMAC has 15 business days from receipt of the violations to accept or contest them. Companies can work to reach a settlement with OSHA or take their case to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.