Region 2 News Release: 13-640-NEW (osha 13-033)
April 10, 2013
Contact: Joanna Hawkins Leni Fortson
Phone: 215-861-5101 215-861-5102
Email: hawkins.joanna@dol.gov uddyback-fortson.lenore@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA fines Voorhees, NJ, masonry group more than
$50,000 for scaffold, safety hazards

VOORHEES, N.J. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Becksted Masonry LLC with three repeat and five serious safety violations, including worker exposure to scaffold hazards, at the company's Voorhees work site. The October 2012 inspection was conducted as part of the agency's local emphasis program on falls in construction, resulting in $50,130 in proposed fines.

The repeat violations include a lack of fall protection, the use of scaffold cross braces to access the scaffold's walking and working surfaces and missing toe boards. A repeat violation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. The same violations were cited in 2008 and 2010 at work sites in Gibbsboro, Manalapan and Voorhees.

"The company's failure to correct these hazards leaves workers vulnerable to accidents common to scaffolding, which can cause serious injury and possible death," said Paula Dixon-Roderick, director of OSHA's Marlton Area Office, which conducted the inspection. "These hazards can be controlled by compliance with OSHA standards."

The company was also cited for serious violations, including the failure to provide training on scaffolds and portable extension ladder setups. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.

More information on scaffolding safeguards can be found at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/scaffolding/index.html#recognition.

Becksted Masonry LLC has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director in Marlton, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Marlton Area Office at 856-596-5200.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

# # #

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille or CD from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.