Nebraska Construction Company Fined $202K After Worker Death

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Werner Construction Inc. in Norfolk, Neb., following an investigation in to the death of a worker killed when caught in a roadway belt paving machine’s screw conveyors. OSHA has proposed $202,000 in penalties against the company.

“This worker should not have been allowed to work in front of the paving machine while it was in operation and moving,” said Charles Adkins, OSHA’s regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo.

OSHA’s investigation found three alleged willful and one alleged serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The willful violations stem from the company’s failure to instruct equipment operators in the safe operation of the belt paving machine; unguarded screw conveyors; and screw conveyors unlocked during maintenance.

The serious violation stems from the lack of employee instruction in recognition and avoidance of hazards associated with the belt paving machine.

Werner Construction has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director in Omaha, Neb., or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA, http://www.osha.gov