OSHA Cites Half-Dozen Firms for Hazards at Texas Construction Cite

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations to six contractors for allegedly failing to provide adequate fall protection for workers at a Denton, Texas, apartment construction site. OSHA’s Fort Worth area office began its investigation May 3 at The Timberlink at Denton after receiving word from the public that workers were exposed to fall hazards.

“Strong enforcement is a key part of this Administration’s efforts to reduce worker fatalities, injuries and illnesses,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. “The significant penalty of $151,200 in this case demonstrates our commitment to protecting the health and safety of American workers.”

General contractor Lindsey Construction Co. Inc. of Fayetteville, Ark., was issued citations and proposed penalties totaling $81,900. Alleged serious violations included failing to ensure that workers operating rough terrain forklifts were trained, failing to train workers on the hazards of falls from roofs and unguarded balconies and failing to properly erect and maintain scaffolds. Alleged repeat violations were for failing to provide hard hats for workers and failing to protect workers from fall hazards.

Wayne Baldwin Construction, the framing subcontractor based in Russellville, Ark., was cited for two alleged repeat violations for failing to train and provide fall protection for workers exposed to falls from roofs. Proposed penalties total $14,000. For similar alleged violations, stucco contractor Silver Star Plastering of Garland, Texas, was issued serious citations with $5,000 in proposed penalties.

For failing to train and provide fall protection for workers exposed to falls from unguarded balconies, OSHA cited Carrollton, Texas-based tile subcontractor Angel David Silva with two alleged serious violations that carry proposed penalties of $3,000.

Masonry subcontractor Martin Munoz of Dallas was issued citations and proposed penalties of $34,250 for 14 alleged serious violations. These included failure to ensure that workers operating rough terrain forklifts were trained, not providing hard hats, not training and providing fall protection for workers exposed to falls from unguarded balconies, and failure to ensure that scaffolds were property erected and maintained.

Alfredo Salazar, also a masonry subcontractor based in Garland, Texas, was issued citations and proposed penalties totaling $13,050 for nine alleged serious violations for failing to properly erect and maintain scaffolds.

The contractors have 15 working days from the receipt of the citations to comply, to request an informal conference with the area director, or to contest the penalties and citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.