Flack’s Painting & Waterproofing, a Pompano Beach, Florida, painting company, faces $89.793 in fines after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) completed an investigation into an employee’s workplace injuries.
OSHA initiated the investigation after an unnamed 48-year-old employee reportedly suffered neck and back injuries due to a fall. The worker was repairing balconies at a high-rise property on Ocean Boulevard and fell 18 feet to the ground when the scaffolding he was working on collapsed.
OSHA conducted two separate inspections and cited Flack’s Painting & Waterproofing for four serious, one willful, and two other-than-serious health and safety violations. The willful citation was issued because the company didn’t ensure that the walking and working surface on the balcony was strong enough to support workers.
The serious citations were issued for failing to ensure the scaffold was fully planked; failing to provide three-tier scaffolds with a complete guardrail system; failing to ensure adequate support of the scaffold’s legs, poles and frames; and failing to ensure a fall protection system was in place.
The two other citations were for failing to implement a written hazard communication program for employees handling dangerous chemicals, and failing to implement a respiratory protection program for employees who wear respirators.
“Had Flacks Painting & Waterproofing provided adequate shoring for the balcony, the worker would not have fallen and suffered serious injuries,” said Condell Eastmond, OSHA’s area director in Fort Lauderdale. “Employers must ensure workers are protected at all times and when safety issues are bought to management’s attention, swift and corrective action must be taken.”
OSHA proposed a $89,793 penalty and gave Flacks Painting & Waterproofing 15 business days to comply. The press could not reach company owners Patrick and Tammy Flack for comment.
Source: 11.16.16 Flack’s Painting & Waterproofing OSHA Citation.pdf