U.S. Department of Labor issued the following announcement on April 6.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Skinner Tank Company – based in Yale, Oklahoma – for lack of fall protection after an employee constructing a storage tank suffered fatal injuries in a 50-foot fall at a Missouri agricultural facility in October 2019. The company faces $415,204 in penalties for two willful and 11 serious safety violations, and has been placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
OSHA alleges that the company violated federal fall protection standards by allowing employees to work at heights over 25 feet above ground without sufficient fall protection, permitting employees to use damaged fall protection equipment and failing to train employees on fall protection hazards and safety precautions.
OSHA also cited Skinner Tank Company for multiple violations of safe crane operation standards, including failing to train operators and signalers, improper rigging of hoisted materials, failing to have a competent person inspect crane operations and equipment, and exposing employees to hazards from working beneath crane loads.
“Falls are consistently one of OSHA’s most cited hazards and they can be prevented by complying with training requirements and using appropriate fall protection,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt.
Original source can be found here.