Construction Company Cited for Fall Exposures
OSHA announced it has cited Burkholder Builders and fined the Pennsylvania company $64,400.
OSHA has issued Burkholder Builders of Ephrata, Pa., citations for two willful, four serious, and one other-than-serious safety violations at a multi-family residential construction project in Leola, Pa.
An investigation led to OSHA's finding that Burkholder Builders failed to provide fall protection to employees working on scaffolding and roofs nearly 18 feet high. The serious violations stemmed from the company allowing workers to be lifted on platforms not suitable for the forklift being used, not providing eye protection for workers using a nail gun, not having an operator at the controls of the rough terrain forklifts, improper use of a portable ladder, and not training employees on the proper use of the nail gun.
"Burkholder Builders is being reckless with its employees' safety," said Kevin Kilp, director of OSHA's Harrisburg Area Office. "OSHA cited this company in 2006 following a fatal fall on one of their projects, so Leon Ray Burkholder knew that fall protection was necessary, yet chose not to use it."