Caterpillar Contractors Cited in Fatal Fall

OSHA has cited two contractors working in Caterpillar’s Mapleton, Illinois, foundry for contributing to the death of a worker who fell 24 feet through a hole in the floor.

Federal workplace safety inspectors investigating the fatal fall have determined that the lead contractor and a nested Caterpillar electrical contractor exposed workers to fall hazards.

According to OSHA, the project lead contractor, Illinois Crane Inc. of Peoria, asked Tegco Inc. (dba Schaefer Electric of Peoria) to provide a bid to move an electrical junction box as part of a skip hoist construction project. While the electrician and the general foreman for Illinois Crane evaluated the proposed work on Dec. 23, 2021, the electrician fell 24 feet through a floor hole and suffered a fatal injury. OSHA determined employees were not protected from falls as required by law.

OSHA cited Illinois Crane with one willful violation for failing to protect employees on walking/working surfaces more than 6 feet above the lower level from falling through holes. Inspectors found the company did not ensure the use of personal fall arrest systems, adequate floor hole covers or guardrail systems. OSHA proposed penalties of $87,016.

OSHA also cited Schaefer Electric for a serious violation because it failed to inspect job sites and evaluate for hazards, and train workers to recognize fall hazards or take appropriate safety precautions to minimize danger. The agency proposed $10,151 in penalties.

“Our investigation found that the use of required fall protection could have prevented this tragedy,” said OSHA area director Barry Salerno in a prepared statement.

Source: OSHA