Contractor could face hefty OSHA fines (failing to follow OSHA rules regarding protection of employe

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080216/NEWS/598473293/-1/LINKS

Published Saturday, February 16, 2008

By Matt Hawk
Staff Writer

TUSCALOOSA | The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed more than $300,000 in penalties against Gilco Contracting Inc. for safety violations discovered at three job sites in 2007.

OSHA cited the Tuscaloosa contractor for seven repeat violations after inspectors visited two job sites in Lake View and another site in Northport in August and November. The violations were for failing to follow OSHA rules regarding protection of employees in trenching and excavating operations.

“Finding repeat violations at three different job locations demonstrates to us that Gilco Contracting is indifferent to its employees’ safety,” said Roberto Sanchez, OSHA’s area director in Birmingham, in a news release.

The company, which had no comment when contacted Friday afternoon, has 15 days to contest the citations.

As a result of last year’s inspections, OSHA proposed penalties totaling $315,000 for the repeat violations, another $10,800 in penalties for three serious violations for using improper equipment and $2,700 in penalties for three recordkeeping violations classified as other-than-serious.

FULL story at link.