<p>A federal agency has proposed fines of $89,000 for a company whose employee was struck and killed by a vehicle while painting road markers.</p><p>The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited United Rentals Highway Technologies for failing to protect employee William Shawn Dedge.</p><p>Dedge, 21, of Madison, Fla., was painting in a turn lane near the entrance of Kinderlou Forest golf community on Feb. 9 when he was struck. He died from his injuries on Feb. 15.</p><p>The company was cited for failing to post motorist warning signs near the work zone, failing to give workers directing traffic the proper equipment and not providing traffic control devices, such as barricades, around the work area.</p><p>The agency issued an additional citation because it was not notified of the death within eight hours, as required by law.</p><p>"Employers must protect employees from highway traffic hazards," said John Deifer, OSHA's Savannah area director. "The penalty in this case demonstrates the department's commitment to protecting the health and safety of these workers."</p><p>United Rentals now has 15 days to contest the citations and proposed penalties.</p><p>The company has been cited in the past for similar violations.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x2866614)</p>
