U.S. Department of Labor | Dec. 16, 2015
B & B Plastering, Leavittsburg, Ohio, made plaster workers to work above two stories at two Ohio construction sites without guard rails or fall protection.
26 Ohio workers died in job-related falls in 2014
Employer name: B & B Plastering, Leavittsburg, Ohio
Citations issued: Dec. 10, 2015
Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Cleveland Area Office cited the Ohio plaster and masonry contractor for four willful and three serious safety violations.
The citations follow two OSHA complaint investigations at separate Ohio construction sites.
In September 2015, investigators observed employees working from scaffolds and exposed to falls of up to 24 feet at a Niles construction site.
In October 2015, employees were again observed working on scaffolds at a Canfield construction site. Workers were exposed to fall hazards of up to 16 feet.
In both instances, B & B Plastering failed to provide guard rails or fall protection equipment.
The company also failed to provide a ladder or other safe means to access the working platforms of the scaffold, install adequate footings and failed to ensure employees wore head protection when required. B & B Plastering was cited for similar hazards in 2010.
Quote: “Falls remain the leading cause of death and injury on construction sites. In the past year, 26 Ohio workers died in falls,” said Howard Eberts, OSHA’s area director in Cleveland.“It is inexcusable for an employer not to provide fall protection on a job.”
Proposed Penalties: $131,440
View: Niles* and Canfield* Citations.
To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency’s Cleveland Office at 216-447-4194.