The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Westwind Contracting for exposing employees to excavation and confined spaces hazards following a fatality at a Pembroke Pines, Florida, work site. According to a press release, the contractor faces $185,239 in penalties.
According to the release, the employee drowned after water and mud filled a catch basin they were working in. OSHA cited the company for failing to protect employees working in an excavation, train employees on how to recognize hazards, and develop and implement a permit-required confined space program. They were additionally cited for exposing workers who attempted to rescue their co-worker, to engulfment hazards.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest.
Source: OSHA
