OSHA Finds Alabama Concrete Contractor Violated Worker Safety Following Fatal Struck-By Incident
Moundville, Alabama-based Ballard Contractors Inc. faces eight citations as a result of the investigation.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Jul 12, 2024
An OSHA investigation has found that Ballard Contractors Inc.—which specializes in commercial and industrial concrete construction—failed to follow essential safety procedures, resulting in the tragic death of a 65-year-old worker.
According to a recent release, the employee was fatally struck by a shipping container weighing over four tons near Tuscaloosa, Alabama. OSHA revealed that the Moundville, Alabama-based company allowed the employee to guide an 8,575-pound container into place. During the operation, one of the chains used to lift the container snapped, causing the fatal accident.
OSHA noted that Ballard Contractors failed to ensure the rigging equipment was properly rated to handle the container’s weight. The company permitted the worker to operate near or beneath the moving load and allowed the use of steel chain slings and a four-way chain lift without proper identification plates or load ratings. The company also did not perform periodic inspections of the slings and failed to implement fall protection measures for workers handling rigging equipment at heights of 11 feet.
“Ballard Contractors failed in its legal responsibility to provide its employees with a safe work environment, especially when it comes to dealing with the serious dangers of handling heavy loads,” OSHA Area Office Director Joel Batiz in Birmingham, Alabama, said in a statement. “OSHA standards exist to help prevent tragedies such as this from occurring. Employers must recognize their duty to ensure the safety of their employees.”
OSHA issued eight citations to Ballard Contractors for violations related to fall, struck-by and crushed-by hazards. The company has since entered into an informal settlement agreement with OSHA to resolve these citations and penalties.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.