OSHA Fines Texas Construction Contractor

Texas & Nationwide Personal Injury News

U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA Fines Construction Contractor More Than $157,000 for Alleged Safety Violations

Garland, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations with proposed penalties totaling $157,600 to Shelby Stephens Construction Inc., a Fort Worth, Texas-based contractor, for allegedly failing to protect employees from falls and falling objects at two of its worksites in Garland.

OSHA cited the wood-framing company, which has 19 employees, for eight alleged serious and 15 alleged repeat violations following two OSHA inspections which began on Jan.7 at the company's worksite at 5085 President George Bush Freeway and Feb, 11 at 310 Town Center Blvd. in Garland. The investigations revealed that employees were not being adequately protected from falls and falling objects, and other workplace hazards.

"This is not the first time this employer has exposed its employees to unsafe working conditions," said Stephen Boyd, OSHA's area director in Dallas. "Protecting employees from potential fall hazards is critical, and employers must follow OSHA's standards to provide a healthful working environment. It is fortunate in this case that no injuries occurred."

The serious violations at the President George Bush Freeway location were for failing to: extend the end of platforms at least 6 inches over the centerline of its support, ensure that 10-foot platforms extended more than 12 inches over their support and provide a ladder at all points of access. Serious violations at the Town Center Boulevard worksite include failure to install adequate bracing on scaffolding and to ensure scaffold poles were set on a firm foundation. A serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result when the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.

For the rest of this article please visit www.osha.gov.