JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - RCP Services Inc. of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for nine safety violations while performing concrete work at a residential apartment complex on Big Island Drive in Jacksonville. OHSA began investigating the company after an OSHA inspector observed employees working without fall protection. The company will now pay a total of $47,000 in proposed penalties.
Among the violations, OSHA says the company allowed employees to work on elevated surfaces without fall protection. The citation for that offense is $35,000.
The other eight serious violations involve exposed and protruding rebar, a lack of eye and face protection, using a welding cable that required repair, using a damaged extension cord, exposing workers to falling objects, not maintaining fire extinguishing equipment and having unprotected holes in the floor that could cause workers to trip or fall. Added together, the citations carry $12,000 in penalties.
"Falls are the leading cause of death for workers in residential construction," said Brian Sturtecky, OSHA's area director in Jacksonville. "Employers must take responsibility for ensuring that workers have and wear proper equipment at all times."
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, RCP Services specializes in tunnel form construction. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
