Two contractors have been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a painter fell from an unsecured balcony at an apartment complex and died when the balcony fell 21 feet to the concrete below, crushing him.
OSHA announced the lawsuits Tuesday against general contractor Geis Construction of Streetsboro, Ohio, and subcontractor JC Jones Corp. of Peninsula, Ohio, stemming from the accident at the Cleveland apartment complex.
The date of the fatal accident was not released by OSHA, which found that the balcony platform was detached and floating freely on wall brackets.
The painter had stepped out onto the third floor balcony when it suddenly tilted, causing him to fall to the cement floor below. As he lay injured, the balcony then slid off its wall attachment and landed on him, crushing him to death, according to OSHA.
OSHA accused the two contractors of failing to properly secure the balcony and failing to post required warning signs warning workers of the hazard.
The contractors are also accused of not having assessed the structural integrity of the balcony.
Geis Construction was charged with a willful violation and a serious violation and was assessed a proposed fine of $1
54,696. JC Jones was charged with a willful violation and a serious violation and was assessed a proposed penalty of $31,252.Both companies have 15 days to contest the referrals.
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