A McDuffie County company has been cited by OSHA due to a fatal industrial accident in August, the Augusta Chronicle reports.
Michael D’Aquino, of the Department of Labor’s office of public affairs, announced that OSHA issued $13,050 in penalties to Two State Construction for four serious citations and one other-than –serious citation.
The investigation and citations are due to an incident on August 28, which resulted in the death of Edward Leon Chambers, 61. The McDuffie County Deputy Coroner Sammy Purvis stated that chambers died after being hit by a bridge crane hoist.
The hoist, which was mounted 18 to 20 feet above on an I-beam near the ceiling of the metal fabrication workshop, weight about 500 to 600 pounds. OSHA cited Two State for not furnishing a place for employment that was free from recognized hazards. Employees were exposed to crush hazards because Two State did not ensure the initial inspections were made to a 5-ton crane hoist after it had been modified and installed.
Two State was also cited for not having lighted exit signs in the fabrication area, for not ensuring that frequent crane inspections took place, for not having proper screens in place to protect workers next to the welding area from the rays emitted, and for not having fire extinguishers undergo annual inspections.
After a conference with Two State on November 2oth, all fines and penalties were paid to OSHA in full.
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