Multi Building Company Cited For Failing To Provide Fall Protection

A Lewisville, Texas, framing contractor faces $77,000 in fines from the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for failing to supply fall protection for its workers at a Billerica, Mass., residential construction site. Multi Building Inc. was cited for one alleged willful and two alleged serious violations of workplace safety standards following a Dec. 8 OSHA inspection of the construction project at Villas at Old Concord, 4 Riverhurst Road in Billerica.

"Employees were exposed to falls of eight to 12 feet from two work areas that lacked fall protection, such as guardrails or safety nets," said Francis Pagliuca, OSHA's area director for Middlesex and Essex counties. "This employer knew such safeguards were required, yet apparently chose not to supply them." OSHA issued one willful citation against the company for lack of fall protection and proposed a fine of $70,000, the maximum allowed under law.

A willful violation is one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. Two serious citations, carrying $7,000 in fines, were issued for lack of employee training in fall protection and ladder safety as well as additional fall hazards stemming from ladder defects and employees climbing wood framing to access the second floor level. A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm are likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

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