Source: Sun Herald (Biloxi, MS), March 9, 2016
Posted on: http://www.advisen.com
OSHA has cited two companies for unsafe wood floor designs that led to its collapse in 2015 and the death of Bary Berthelot, 54. He and three other workers were rebuilding the Jourdan River Steamer restaurant in Kiln, which had been damaged by Hurricane Isaac.
Berthelot Design Systems and subcontractor Great Southern Building Systems LLC, doing business as Bayou Steel Fabricators Inc., have been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“On Sept. 8, 2015, as workers poured concrete above, Berthelot and three workers employed by Great Southern Building Systems were placing additional supports beneath the concrete form when it collapsed,” OSHA said in a press release. “Falling concrete and other debris struck and trapped the father of four, who had 30 years of construction experience and was the project’s general contractor.”
The other workers escaped the collapse.
The OSHA investigation found the project’s original flooring plans called for a wood floor, but OSHA said the contractors did not get new engineering plans for a concrete floor and used designs that could not support the weight of the concrete.
OSHA’s actions pertaining to the collapse:
— Great Southern Building Systems was cited March 2 for one willful and two serious safety violations.
— The agency waived the citations and penalties against Berthelot, as he was the company’s only employee.
— OSHA issued one willful citation for exposing workers to being struck by material, because the concrete formwork was not built to handle the load on it.
— Great Southern Building Systems received serious citations for not installing formwork to support the concrete floor as it was poured and not having engineering plans for the concrete floor on site.
— Proposed penalties for Great Southern Building Systems total $79,800.
“Great Southern Building Systems LLC failed in its responsibility to protect its employees, despite being warned that the floor was unstable,” said Eugene Stewart, director of OSHA’s Jackson Area Office. “This tragedy could have been prevented had the employer obtained new engineering plans and followed the requirements.”
Great Southern, based in Pearl River, La., has 15 business days to comply, to request a conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.