Inadequate Fall Protection Leads to Citations Against Contractor

Thursday, October 19, 2017 | 0

Equipping construction workers with fall-prevention harnesses, but allegedly not tying off the harnesses to arrest a fall, has led to federal citations against an Alabama-based subcontractor.

Structural Subcontractors Service LLC was issued citations last week for one willful and two serious safety violations by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The citations carry proposed penalties of $102,669.

OSHA launched an inspection of the business on July 7 as part of the agency’s regional emphasis program to limit falls in construction. OSHA compliance safety and health officers found that framers working on a roof at a job site in Georgia were wearing fall protection harnesses that were not tied off to stop a fall.

OSHA issued one willful citation for failing to protect employees from fall hazards. The two serious citations were for exposing employees to falls of approximately 9 feet, and for failing to train employees to recognize fall hazards.

Falls in construction are a leading cause of fatal injuries, OSHA officials noted.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to contest the findings.