OSHA: Pennsylvania Contractors Expose Employees to Serious Workplace Dangers
OSHA has fined the contractors more than $236,000.
OSHA announced an enforcement action against Penn Stucco and BC Stucco, two Pennsylvania contractors, for serious violations at a Philadelphia work site. The citations related to workplace dangers; Penn Stucco has been cited for one serious and four repeat violations, while BC Stucco has been cited for three willful, two repeat, and two serious violations.
An OSHA investigation was opened after a complaint alleged employees from both companies were working approximately 20 feet up on a scaffold with major safety deficiencies, such as lack of planking, bracing, safe access, and stability. The agency issued a total of $136,390 in penalties to the companies.
"OSHA determined the general contractor shortened the schedule in the middle of the project. Both employers pushed to rush completion and bypassed safety," Nicholas DeJesse, director of OSHA's Philadelphia Area Office. "Penn Stucco Systems and BC Stucco and Stone jeopardized their workers' safety knowingly by failing to provide basic scaffolding safeguards intended to prevent serious injuries and save lives. Both of these companies have a history of ignoring safety standards and putting their workers at risk. Such behavior is unacceptable and it must stop before someone is seriously hurt or worse."