Framing company cited for exposing employees to fall hazards

A Birmingham, Alabama-based structural framing company is facing $102,669 in proposed penalties for exposing workers to fall hazards.

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors discovered that workers were wearing fall protection harnesses, but that the harnesses were not tied off to prevent a fall.

OSHA issued Structural Subcontractors Service L.L.C. “one willful citation for failing to protect employees from fall hazards and two serious citations for exposing employees to falls of approximately nine feet, and for failing to train employees to recognize fall hazards,” OSHA said Tuesday in a statement.

“Falls in construction are a leading cause of fatal injuries,” said William Fulcher, Atlanta-based OSHA area director. “This company knowingly allowed the framers to work on the roof without fall protection,” he said. 

Representatives of the company were not immediately available to comment.