OSHA cites two northeast Georgia contractors

ATLANTA - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Friday proposed fines totaling nearly $112,000 for three contractors, including two from northeast Georgia, whose workers did not have fall-protection equipment. <br> <br> The OSHA inspections at Cobb County&#39;s Mable House Amphitheater occurred from November through March after the agency received complaints of unsafe conditions. <br> <br> The bulk of the fines, $100,250, was proposed against Southern Steel Co. of Hoschton, which received five citations. Company officials did not immediately return a call for comment. <br> <br> OSHA inspectors found workers as high as 58 feet without fall protection, the agency said in a statement. Construction workers were wearing body harnesses, but those were not attached to anything to prevent them from falling, OSHA spokesman Jo Anne Burgoyne said. <br> <br> OSHA&#39;s new steel erection standard requires fall protection for workers at 15 feet instead of 25 feet. <br> <br> The project general contractor, Ricks Contracting Inc., of Buford, received four citations with a proposed $10,000 penalty for allowing the unsafe conditions. <br> <br> McKnight Roofing Inc. of Riverdale received one citation for allowing workers to install roofing without fall protection. That carries a proposed fine of $1,500. <br> <br> The companies have 15 business days to contest the citations and proposed penalties.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/5/194087