Contractor Cited After Workers Found 22 Feet High with "Inadequate Fall Protection"

Contractor Cited After Workers Found 22 Feet High with "Inadequate Fall Protection"

The company has a history of unpaid fines and unresponded citations, OSHA says.

A company with unpaid penalties from previous citations is being cited again.

According to a press release, OSHA found Emerald Inc of Illinois most recently exposed employees to fall hazards when working at heights of 22 feet. An OSHA investigation found the employees did not have adequate fall protection.

OSHA also found the employees were not trained on powered industrial vehicles and used ladders incorrectly. OSHA cited the company for one willful and five repeat citations. The agency proposed penalties of $263,226.

“Emerald Inc. continues to put its workers at risk of the construction industry’s most cited safety hazard – a fall from heights – which can leave workers with serious debilitating injuries or worse,” explained OSHA Chicago North Area Director Angeline Loftus in Des Plaines, Illinois in the press release. “The company’s disregard of federal safety standards and willingness to gamble with its workers’ lives is disturbing. OSHA will continue to cite the company for its violations and hold them legally responsible for the dangerous risks they are taking.”

Emerald Inc has not responded to other citations, according to the press release. These citations are from 2018, 2020 and 2021. The company owes more than $378,561 in penalties.

The company has 15 days to respond to the new citation. 

About the Author

Alex Saurman is a former Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety,who has since joined OH&S’s client services team. She continues to work closely with OH&S’s editorial team and contributes to the magazine.

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