Plaster, masonry contractor cited by OSHA

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Cleveland Area Office recently cited B&B Plastering, a plaster and masonry contractor in Leavittsburg.

The business received citations for four willful and three serious safety violations.

The citations follow two OSHA complaint investigations at separate Ohio construction sites.

In September, investigators observed employees working from scaffolds and exposed to falls of up to 24 feet at a Niles construction site.

In October, employees again were observed working on scaffolds at a Canfield construction site. Workers were exposed to fall hazards of up to 16 feet.

In both instances, B&B Plastering failed to provide guard rails or fall-protection equipment, OSHA said.

The company also failed to provide a ladder or other safe means to access the working platforms of the scaffold, install adequate footings and failed to ensure employees wore head protection when required, according to OSHA.

B&B Plastering was cited for similar hazards in 2010.

“Falls remain the leading cause of death and injury on construction sites. In the past year, 26 Ohio workers died in falls,” said Howard Eberts, OSHA’s area director in Cleveland. “It is inexcusable for an employer not to provide fall protection on a job.”

OSHA proposed penalties of $131,440 to B&B.