A-1 agrees to settle for OSHA, paying $474,000 in penalties

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.chippewa.com/articles/2009/09/30/news/doc4ac...

By THE HERALD
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 3:06 PM CDT

A Bloomer construction firm has agreed to pay $474,000 in penalties in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

A-1 Excavating co-owner Terry Pecha was not immediately available for comment on the settlement announced Wednesday.

OSHA had proposed $861,000 in penalties for three excavation hazard inspections.

In one case, OSHA investigated the company in August after Eugene Hakes Jr., 33, of Cadott was killed at a worksite in New Richmond. Hakes was cutting pipe in a trench with a power saw when the saw kicked back and struck him.

Under the agreement, A-1 has to hire a full-time safety officer; provide additional safety and health training to all employees; and for the next three years tell OSHA where A-1 is working and allow OSHA access to those sites without having to get a warrant.

“We are pleased that A-1 Excavating has agreed to take significant steps to ensure worker safety at their worksites,” said Mark Hysell, OSHA area director in Eau Claire.