Officials with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration say the death of an electrical contractor’s job site manager last June while working on storm recovery efforts in Alabama could have been prevented if the company had taken security measures.
OSHA, a unit of the Department of Labor, issued seven serious violations and one other violation on Dec. 17 to electrical contractor Dexter Fortson Associates Inc. based in Birmingham, Ala., proposing to pay him $84,789 in penalties.
The 44-year-old employee led a three-person crew working to restore power to natural gas pumps in Coaling, Ala., on June 19 after the storms. While repairing a broken switch, he was electrocuted. Investigators said the switch had been tripped.
Officials did not name the person who was killed.
According to OSHA, Dexter Fortson Associates failed to test electrical protective equipment, properly train workers about hazards, conduct annual inspections, provide adequate work reports, remove live line tools from service after two years, prevent workers from employees bring a conductive object to the exhibition. powered parts or ensure all equipment is disabled or tagged out.
“Electrical work is inherently dangerous, and employers in the industry must ensure that basic safety standards are met to prevent an unnecessary tragedy like this,” OSHA Area Director Joel Batiz said in a statement .
Dexter Fortson Associates did not immediately respond to inquiries from ENR. The contractor has 15 business days after receiving the citations to comply, request a conference with OSHA, or contest the findings.
