OSHA Citations: Cincinnati Contractor Penalized for Fatality

OSHA has cited American Building LLC, a steel-erection contractor, for work-safety violations that resulted in the accidental fall and death of one of its workers at a construction site in Stamford, Cincinnati. 

The fatal accident happened last Oct. 25, 2011 during the installation of metal roofing onto a prefab building. The victim fell 35 feet to the ground.

OSHA courses, such as OSHAcampus 10 hourtraining and 30 hour course (both online OSHA training), are now required by many employers; they provide excellent orientation on the essential protocols to follow to steer workers out of harm’s way.

OSHA’s investigation revealed that workers not only were not properly trained to identify and avoid fall dangers but also did not have fall protection. The work-safety watchdog discovered that the victim’s safety harness—as were those of two other workers—was not tied to anchorage points, which would have broken the fall. 

"Inadequate and ineffective fall protection can be as dangerous and deadly as no fall protection at all," observed Robert Kowalski, OSHA area director in Bridgeport, Cinn. "This employer was well aware that these workers were exposed to falls but did not take steps to eliminate a significant hazard. A combination of proper fall protection and effective training could have prevented this needless loss of life."

Following the investigation, American Building received one serious violation for the lack of training and one willful violation for the lack of fall protection, with total proposed penalties totaling $51,700.