The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has cited a construction company for 13 violations after a state employee saw three workers exposed to fall hazards while working nearly 20 feet off the ground.
J & I Construction of Puyallup, WA, was fined $203,420 for violations in connection with exposing workers to potential falls at a construction site in Olympia, WA:
- 3 willful violations for not providing proper fall protection to three employees who were working on the top of a wall nearly 20 feet off the ground ($42,000 each)
- a repeat-serious violation for not having a plan outlining the fall hazards on the specific job ($21,000)
- a repeat-serious violation for exposing workers to unguarded wall openings that they could fall through ($21,000)
- a repeat-serious violation for not ensuring workers didn’t stand or step on the top of a self-supporting ladder ($21,000)
- a repeat-serious violation for not having railings on open-sided stairs to protect employees from falls ($5,600)
- a repeat-serious violation for not ensuring workers wore hard hats where there was a danger of flying or falling objects ($4,200)
- a serious violation for not having safety springs on nail guns to protect against accidental discharges ($2,800)
- a repeat-general violation for not conducting walk-around safety inspections ($700)
- a repeat-general violation because no one onsite had a valid first-aid card ($1,120), and
- two general violations that didn’t carry monetary penalties.
J & I is now considered a severe violator and will be subject to follow-up inspections. The company has 15 business days to appeal the citation.
Washington L&I notes that falls continue to be the leading cause of construction worker deaths and hospitalizations.