Company cited after worker falls 21' to concrete floor (3/24)

OSHA has citedWinter Park Construction Co.of Maitland, FL and

The Warehouse Co.of Myrtle Beach, S.C., with eight alleged safety violations following the injury of a worker who fell while renovating the interior of a resort complex in Stuart, FL. Proposed penalties total $68,750.

The September, 2010 accident occurred when an employee of The Warehouse Co., a subcontractor of Winter Park Construction Co., fell approximately 21 feet to a concrete surface while passing furniture from a debris container mounted on the forks of a powered industrial truck. The container was elevated to the surface of a breezeway railing, and the worker had one foot on the railing and the other foot on the container when he fell.

"Falls continue to be the number one killer in construction," said Darlene Fossum, OSHA's area director in Fort Lauderdale. "Employers must take responsibility for the safety of their employees, and ensure training and procedures are in place to eliminate their exposure to falls. Blatant disregard for the law will not be tolerated."

OSHA issued The Warehouse Co. one willful safety citation with a proposed penalty of $56,000 for failing to provide employees with fall protection while working on a railing of a breezeway within 3 feet of an unprotected edge.

The Warehouse Co. also received two serious safety citations with $1,500 in proposed penalties. The company failed to provide training to recognize fall hazards and procedures to follow when working from a railing without fall protection, and exposed employees who were not trained in fall hazards to falling approximately 21 feet from a temporary working platform.

Winter Park Construction was issued five serious safety citations with $11,250 in proposed penalties for exposing workers to potential fall hazards and struck-by hazards; failing to have a designated competent person inspect the worksite, materials and equipment; allowing employees to operate a powered industrial truck without being evaluated as required; and for having deficiencies in its site-specific safety and health program.