Region 7 News Release 10-957-KAN (10-218)
July 14, 2010
Contact: Jeannine Lupton or Michael Shimizu
Phone: 206-553-7620

US Department of Labor's OSHA cites Sturgis Tuckpointing
in St. Louis, Mo., for violations of OSH Act
Employees repeatedly exposed to fall hazards

ST. LOUIS - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Clint Horn, doing business as Sturgis Tuckpointing, in St. Louis with alleged safety violations for repeatedly exposing workers to fall hazards while working on scaffolding structures. Proposed penalties total $221,600.

"Falls remain the number one killer of workers in the construction industry," said Charles E. Adkins, OSHA's regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. "OSHA will not tolerate employers who repeatedly fail to provide and ensure the use of fall protection, continuing to place their workers' lives at needless risk."

OSHA's inspection, which began in February 2010, resulted in Sturgis Tuckpointing receiving two alleged serious and five alleged repeat citations. The serious violations address hazards associated with the misuse of portable ladders. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard that an employer knew or should have known about.

The repeat violations address hazards associated with a lack of worksite inspections, no protection from overhead hazards, unsafe scaffold access, lack of fall protection on a scaffold and a lack of or deficient scaffold training. OSHA issues repeat violations when an employer previously was cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facilities in federal enforcement states within the last three years.

Detailed information on scaffold hazards and safe work practices, including an interactive e-Tool, is available online at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/scaffolding/index.html.

Sturgis Tuckpointing has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in St. Louis or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. To report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-6742.

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 assure 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

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