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3. Scaffolding

Workers Exposed to Fall, Scaffolding Hazards in Philadelphia

Dec. 22, 2016
A Plymouth Meeting, Pa., contractor has been fined $87,000 by OSHA for alleged safety violations.

On Dec. 9, OSHA issued citations to Vanilson Da Silva, doing business as Real Contractors LLC, for four alleged repeat and two alleged serious safety violations. Proposed fin is $87,794.

OSHA began an inspection of one of the company’s job sites on June 10, after a compliance officer observed Real Contractors’ employees exposed to fall hazards.

This contractor previously has been cited in 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013. The agency cited repeat violations for the company’s failure to provide its workers with a safe means to access scaffold platforms, fall protection to prevent falls up to 13 feet and fall prevention training.  The serious violations involved additional scaffolding hazards.

“By not complying with OSHA safety standards, Real Contractors continues to put its workers at serious risk of being injured or killed on the job. The hazards found in our inspection are all completely preventable, and must be immediately corrected by the company,” said Theresa Downs, director of OSHA’s Philadelphia Area Office.

Real Contractors LLC has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with Downs or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

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