Workers Comp

Florida contractor cited in fatality on expressway project

Danielle Ling

April 19, 2022 Reprints

Regulation Workers Comp Coverage Workplace Safety More + Less -

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Monday issued citations to a Clearwater, Florida-based contractor for exposing workers to struck-by and crushed-by hazards following a federal investigation into a fatal workplace incident.

On Oct. 6, 2021, a 47-year-old carpenter employed by joint-venture group Archer Western – De Moya JV II was fatally injured working onsite the Pinellas Gateway Express project in Clearwater.

The unidentified employee was working with two other workers inside a trench box cutting concrete piles used to build footers for elevated lanes of the expressway when the incident occurred.

OSHA inspectors determined that the concrete pile was attached to a crane with a damaged wire rope sling. During the cutting, the pile broke free and struck the worker in the chest, pinning him against the wall.

Investigators determined Archer Western failed to follow required safety standards and provide adequate training and supervision while workers used a gas-powered chop saw to cut concrete piles. OSHA cited the company for exposing workers to struck-by and crushed-by hazards, carrying $60,084 in proposed penalties.

Violations include allowing workers to remain in a crane load’s danger zone, failing to train workers on how to recognize and avoid unsafe working conditions, failing to ensure hand signals between the crane operator and the signal person were agreed upon before conducting a lift, and using a wire rope sling with damaged capacity information tags.