Region 4 News Release: 09-468-ATL (122)
May 15, 2009
Contact: Michael D'Aquino Michael Wald
Phone: 404-562-2076 404-562-2078

U.S. Labor Department's OSHA fines 2 contractors $175,000 in penalties following construction collapse and injuries at building site in Meridian, Miss.

JACKSON, Miss. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing $175,000 in penalties against W.G. Yates & Sons Construction and Spectrum Concrete Services following the November 2008 collapse of a wood shoring system at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center's medical towers addition in Meridian, Miss.

Workers were pouring concrete for the second floor of the building when the floor collapsed, injuring eight employees of the two companies. W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co. was the general contractor at the site and had contracted with Spectrum Concrete Services LLC to pour and finish the concrete.

OSHA is proposing two willful violations with penalties of $140,000 and five serious safety violations with $33,000 in penalties against W.G. Yates & Sons. The willful violations are for the company's failure to adequately erect and brace framework to support loads and to adequately brace tiered shoring. The agency defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health. The serious violations are for the company's failure to train staff, provide drawings on site during the first two weeks of construction and vertically align tiered shores. In addition, shoring equipment had not been inspected prior to erection and the tiered shoring had not been inspected by an engineer.

Spectrum Concrete Services is being cited with three serious violations and $2,000 in fines for failure to provide a written hazard communication program, a safety and health program, and fall protection training.

"There is no justification for risking workers' lives by ignoring the requirements in the design plans," said Clyde Payne, director of OSHA's Jackson Area Office.

The companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Jackson or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The site was inspected by staff from OSHA's Jackson Area Office, 3780 I-55 North, Suite 210, telephone 601-965-4606.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

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