Scaffolding Violations Lead to Florida Stucco Contractor's $41,200 Fine
"The dangers of scaffolding can be controlled by adhering to OSHA standards, but this company continues to expose its workers to unnecessary hazards," said Darlene Fossum, OSHA area director in Fort Lauderdale.
OSHA has issued Westport Stucco of southern Florida nine safety citations and $41,200 in penalties following an inspection of the company's site in Cooper City, Fla.
OSHA is issuing four repeat safety citations with $34,800 in fines for failing to initiate and maintain a corporate safety program that complies with OSHA standards, failing to fully plank each working level of scaffolds, failing to equip scaffolds with guardrails, and using scaffolds that were not inspected by a competent person. A repeat violation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for the same or similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.
Four serious citations are being issued with fines of $6,400 for failing to place planking of a scaffolding over a support, to properly brace scaffolds, erect toe boards to prevent falling objects from striking employees beneath the scaffolds, and have a competent person inspect scaffolds after they have been erected, moved, dismantled, or altered. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
"The dangers of scaffolding can be controlled by adhering to OSHA standards, but this company continues to expose its workers to unnecessary hazards," said Darlene Fossum, OSHA area director in Fort Lauderdale.
Detailed information on scaffold hazards and safe work practices, including an interactive e-Tool, is available online at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/scaffolding/index.html.