No Fall Protection at 125 Feet: OSHA Fatality Investigation Leads to Willful Citation for Louisiana Employer
Custom Tower LLC of Scott, La., has been cited by OSHA for one willful safety violation following the death of a worker who fell approximately 125 feet while attempting to install a microwave dish on a cellular tower along Highway 149 in Louise, La.. OSHA initiated the August inspection in response to the fatality.
The willful violation involves the employer – which designs, manufactures, installs and repairs cellular towers – failing to ensure that workers properly wore and used fall protection equipment while working from heights greater than 6 feet. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health. Proposed penalties total $50,400.
“This preventable tragedy underscores the legal responsibility of employers to follow OSHA standards and procedures to ensure workers use fall protection equipment correctly,” said Clyde Payne, director of OSHA’s Jackson Area Office. “Employers must ensure a safe and healthful workplace for their workers.”
OSHA’s fall prevention campaign provides employers and workers with lifesaving information and educational materials about working safely from ladders, scaffolds and roofs. It was developed in partnership with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and NIOSH’s National Occupational Research Agenda program.
Custom Tower LLC has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with Payneor contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
