OSHA Cites Shop in Slab-Fall Death
HUNTSVILLE, Ala – The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking $29,000 in fines from a fabrication shop after a fatal accident earlier this year.
John Hopper, 32, died after a stone slab fell on him at Huntsville Granite and Marble LLC on March 27
OSHA investigators cited a lack by the shop in following federal safety guidelines as the cause of the fatality.
OSHA determined that employees were using a forklift to take stone slabs off a storage rack when the slab became unsecured and struck Hopper. OSHA found that an improperly secured load and a damaged rigging hook with a missing safety latch contributed to the incident.
In a statement released Oct. 17, OSHA noted the company violated federal regulations by:
- Failing to develop and institute safe procedures, including worker training, for moving stone slabs.
- Permitting workers to use a damaged rigging hook missing the safety latch.
- Allowing workers to use worn and damaged security straps.
- Failing to ensure forklift attachments were manufacturer approved.
- Neglecting to evaluate forklift operators’ performance at least every three years.
OSHA proposed $29,035 in penalties to address the violations, an amount set by federal statute.
“Huntsville Granite and Marble didn’t uphold its duty to keep workers safe,” said OSHA Area Office Director Joel Batiz in Birmingham, Ala. “With the right procedures, equipment, and training, this tragedy could have been avoided.
“We call on employers to make workplace safety a priority and use OSHA resources to safeguard their employees.”
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
