(Texas)-The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited a construction company with six safety violations after an inspection of the work site found employees exposed to several hazards while applying stucco to the exterior of a home.

The OSHA report proposed penalties totaling $50,820.

“This is not the first time [the company] has jeopardized the safety of its employees,” said San Antonio OSHA Area Director Jeff Funke. “Exposing workers to possible falls is unacceptable and can have tragic consequences.”

The Company was cited for failing to ensure that “employees erecting, dismantling, moving, repairing, maintaining or inspecting scaffolding were trained by a competent person to recognize the hazards associated with working on a scaffold.”

Five repeat violations include:
– failing to make sure that working levels of scaffolding were fully supported with safe means of access and egress,
– also failing to make sure that scaffolding was inspected for visible defects and protect employees from falling by providing guardrail systems or other means.

A repeat violation exists when a company previously has been cited or warned for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.

OSHA cited the construction business 8 months ago and in March of 2009 for similar violations with proposed penalties of $4,050 and $3,450, respectively.

By: South Carolina Workers Comp Attorney Pete Strom

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