OSHA cited a Florida drywall contractor after a worker suffered a fatal head injury due to unaddressed struck-by hazards from a hoisting device.
Inspectors determined that a scaffold pulley system the contractor was using at a residential construction site failed while workers were hoisting buckets of concrete. The failure led to the hoist arm of the pulley system detaching from the scaffold and striking a worker in the head, resulting in a fatal injury.
OSHA said the incident occurred because the contractor failed to provide a safe working environment due to struck-by hazards, a lack of accident prevention and hazard communication programs, and failure to properly train employees who used scaffolding.
Fine: $74,555
Company: Stucco Works Inc., Homestead, Florida
Business: Masonry contractor
Reasons for fine:
12 serious violations for failing to:
- develop and use a written hazard communication program for hazardous materials
- develop and use an accident prevention program for employees involved in stucco work, exposing employees to fall, struck-by, crushed-by and burn hazards
- ensure all working levels of scaffolding were fully planked to prevent fall hazards
- ensure scaffolding had base plates to prevent fall, struck-by and crushed-by hazards
- ensure scaffolding systems included ladders
- ensure scaffolding systems weren’t overloaded
- have a competent person inspect scaffolds and scaffold components for visible defects before each shift
- protect employees working on scaffolds more than 10 feet above a lower level by providing appropriate fall protection
- include toe boards, screens or other methods on scaffolds to prevent struck-by hazards
- train employees how to recognize the hazards associated with the type of scaffolding they were using
- train employees tasked with erecting scaffolding on the hazards associated with the task
- ensure guardrail systems were capable of withstanding a force of at least 200 pounds applied within 2 inches of its top edge
2 other-than serious violations for failing to:
- keep debris cleared from work areas and passageways
- record an incident on the OSHA 300 Log and 301 Incident Report that resulted in a work-related fatality
