OSHA Cites Ala. Company Following Fatality

The U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited B & D Industrial & Mining Services and proposed penalties totaling $41,550 following a fatal accident at the company’s Jasper, Alabama plant.

“This accident could have been prevented if the company had provided fall protection training and the proper equipment,” said Roberto Sanchez, OSHA’s Birmingham area director.

OSHA’s investigation reportedly found that, on the morning of Feb. 26, two employees climbed onto the plant’s corrugated roof to clean out clogged gutters. One employee stepped onto a deteriorated skylight in the roof and fell 25 feet to the concrete shop floor.

OSHA issued two serious citations directly related to the accident and proposed penalties of $9,800 for exposing workers to fall hazards by failing to provide proper equipment to reach the roof and to avoid the skylights.

The company was also cited for fall hazards not directly related to the fatality. Penalties of $10,000 were proposed for defective ladders and lack of proper guardrails on platforms, loading docks and stairways.

Penalties of $19,250 are also proposed for other alleged violations including: exposing workers to electrical hazards; failing to train employees; lack of machine guards; failing to properly label hoisting equipment control buttons; and failure to properly label and store chemicals and gas containers.

Failing to report the fatal accident within eight hours resulted in an additional proposed fine of $2,500.

The company has 15 days to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.