Demolition Contractor Cited in Fatal Fall

Richmond Construction is facing $374,603 in fines after a worker fell and died during a building-demolition project in Queens, New York.

A workplace safety investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that Richmond failed to provide and require the use of all required safeguards related to fall protection. The worker fell from the roof to the building’s interior. Investigators also determined that the company failed to train its workers to recognize and avoid fall hazards.

OSHA cited Richmond Construction for nine willful, repeat, and serious violations of workplace safety standards and proposed penalties totaling $374,603.

OSHA determined that Richmond Construction failed to:

• Provide employees with effective fall protection and fall protection training.
• Have a competent person inspect the roof, lifeline systems and fall arrest harnesses before the employees started work. A competent person has the knowledge to spot hazards and the authority to correct them.
• Have a qualified person supervise the design, installation and use of the horizontal lifeline.
• Ensure the lifeline system was capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds.
• Ensure employees did not connect their fall protection lanyards to anchor points below their harness rings.
• Provide eye and ear protection to employees operating jackhammers.

“Richmond Construction Inc. ignored its legal responsibility to protect workers from falls and the result was the loss of a worker’s life,” said Kay Gee, OSHA Area Director, in a prepared statement. “Complying with OSHA standards is not optional. It is required to ensure workers return home unharmed at the end of the day.”

Source: OSHA