A look at the construction and farming companies facing the largest penalties for safety violations in Q3
Isn’t it frustrating that some companies do not learn from their mistakes and repeatedly take missteps? Working with heavy equipment is one of the most dangerous and toughest jobs that carries many risks. Especially when operators or workers, working around the crane and similar giant machines have more risk. Constantly repeating the same error has the many workers’ lives in recent times. Although the OSHA and other organizations have set some security standards and rules that must be followed by the companies, many neglect them and face consequences.
Frequently working from heights without necessary protection and not following the complete procedure of protection led to many unwanted risks and problems. These not only put lives in danger of the operator but also can delay the whole project.
Such are some of the regulations outlined by OSHA in the third quarter of 2024 that were particularly highlighted due to the first issued fines.
Response of OSHA on violations
It is too often and common these days, that most companies and small businesses to fulfill the project requirement neglect the security rules. In the demanding landscape of the construction industry only think about the profit, they are most likely to compromise on other important aspects of the project. Safety should be the primary focus of the companies, OSHA publicizes instances in which it issues large fines, as a means of showing its regulatory power and calling attention to violations.
In the third quarter of this year, the agency highlighted several employers facing hefty penalties across multiple job sites and inspections.
In construction, most cases always involve successive absconders, who are residential builders and the initial penalty is usually higher. Settlements can reduce the fine amounts, which is why some estimates on the report do not have any relation to the actual sum that was paid out.
U.S. Tank Painting Inc. Contests $485,580 Fine
After OSHA discovered that a water tower painting contractor in New Jersey neglected to install or supply safety equipment that could have stopped an employee from falling 80 feet and sustaining significant injuries in January, the contractor faced three willful and 19 serious violations. Apart from this case, the number of accidents increased especially involving or working with heavy equipment.
OSHA investigators claim that U.S. Tank Painting Inc. had employees replace a ladder that was attached to the water tower in Bayville, New Jersey, as well as sandblast and paint the building’s exterior and interior.
The agency asserted that in addition to exposing workers to numerous other dangerous risks, including excessive noise levels without any protection and a lack of training and protection from silica hazards, the company neglected to make sure that workers were wearing the appropriate fall protection. As a result, the contractor faces $485,580 in proposed penalties. The company is contesting the fines.
Fine on Sound Construction Inc.
In a July release, OSHA reported that a worker’s death in a trench collapse in December could have been prevented by an Easton, Connecticut contractor. Investigators found that Sound Construction Inc. exposed five employees to dangers like cave-ins, engulfment, or struck-by hazards at a job site in New Canaan, Connecticut.
The company failed to provide cave-in protection for the 12-foot-deep trench, train workers on trench safety, keep an excavator more than 2 feet from the trench’s edge, and locate underground utilities before digging.
On December 22, 2023, an unprotected trench wall collapsed, partially burying and killing an employee. In June, OSHA cited Sound Construction for five serious and two willful violations, totaling $394,083 in fines, which the company is contesting. OSHA had also cited them in 2016 for trench safety violations at another site in Trumbull, Connecticut.
Framing contractor faces $144K in fines for repeated safety violations
A framing contractor from Sun Prairie Wisconsin is being proposed $144,505 in fines after OSHA investigators accused the company of putting workers in danger from fall hazards without adequate protection. At a residential construction site, OSHA observed six employees of GL Construction of Madison climbing up to 12 feet without such safety gear as PPEs. Consequently, in August of the year, the company received one willful, two repeat, and five serious citations.
OSHA pointed out that it has been identifying falling hazards concerning GL Construction employees for the last four years. However, the company was only cited four months before the latest investigation in October 2023 for one repeat and two serious violations that violated fall hazards.
In April 2022, a GL Construction employee died when a 1,000-pound wall fell while the crew attempted to lift it using a crane in high winds. OSHA cited the company for nine serious and two other-than-serious violations after the incident.
OSHA claims that GL Construction has not yet complied with a settlement agreement, paid federal fines, or addressed safety concerns. Due to a lack of publicly accessible contact information, the corporation, which is disputing the current penalty, could not be reached for comment.
In conclusion
The third quarter of 2024 saw several notable OSHA fines, highlighting the ongoing issue of safety violations in the construction industry. From fall hazards to trench collapses, these incidents demonstrate the dire consequences when companies neglect worker safety.
These are the few construction and farming industries that have not followed the guidelines, and subsequently that have taken many lives. It is essential to make sure that all procedures and protocols regarding the safety and security of the workers. As a consequence, the companies must repay the damages done through their negligence.
Despite established regulations, repeat offenders continue to put lives at risk. The substantial fines issued by OSHA serve as a critical reminder that safety must be a top priority on every job site, not only to avoid penalties but, more importantly, to protect the lives of workers.
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