Texas company fined for failing to provide employees with fall protection

Posted by Gary on March 7, 2013 under OSHA Violations | Be the First to Comment

On February 27, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a press release reporting that it was citing Texas-based Wolff Construction. Violations were allegedly discovered during an investigation last October at a San Marcos worksite located on North Fredericksburg Street.

According to OSHA officials, the Wolff management team failed to provide employees with adequate fall protection when exposed to heights of 6-feet or more. They also neglected to inspect rigging equipment, remove debris from work spaces, safely operate an all-terrain forklift and use guard reinforcing appliances to eliminate impalement dangers. All of these were considered serious infractions.

"A lack of fall protection means workers are one slip or step away from deadly or disabling falls," Casey Perkins, OSHA's area director in Austin, said in a statement. "Employers must provide effective fall protection for their workers and ensure these workers are trained to recognize and address fall hazards."

Like all companies that are fined by the federal health and safety agency, Wolff has just over two weeks to decide whether it will pay the fine and accept the charges, request a meeting with local OSHA officials or go through the appeals process. As of March 7, it has not announced what course of action it will take. 

Every year, hundreds of workers across the United States are seriously injured or killed during falling accidents. To reduce the likelihood of these types of incidents, OSHA has created a Stop Falls web page which can be viewed by clicking here. Here, you'll find valuable information on the form of fact sheets, safety posters and even videos that accurately illustrate how work safely in a construction setting.