OSHA Fines Connecticut Firm for Cave-In Risks
2012-01-26 |
The federal government's safety agency recently fined Connecticut-based Penney Construction $169,000 after employees were exposed to cave-in hazards.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company for not giving trenching protection to workers, not developing a lockout/tagout procedure, failing to train workers under a hazardous energy control program and other major issues.
The local OSHA leadership said despite being told otherwise, the company had allowed workers to perform tasks in an unsafe area and that it would be forced to comply with regulations.
"This employer repeatedly sent its workers into harm's way even after being told that the unguarded trench posed a clear, immediate and potentially deadly threat," said Paul Mangiafico, OSHA's area directorin Hartford. "These workers could have been crushed or buried alive in seconds."
OSHA made other headlines in recent weeks after it fined a Georgia-based firm for similar hazards. K.M. Davis was hit with a $53,900 penalty after OSHA found that the company had exposed workers to risks of death or injury while installing new fire hydrants.
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