Four Construction Contractors Cited in Austin, Texas Scaffolding Accident

Four contractors have been cited for safety violations that resulted in a scaffolding accident at an apartment building construction site in Austin this year.

The collapse occurred on June 11^th. The three workers were working on the scaffolding when parts of it collapsed. The workers fell to the ground and died from their injuries.. Now, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration  as proposed penalties against Capoera Construction, Mast Climber Manufacturing Inc, Andres Construction Services LLC and Greater Metroplex Interiors Inc.  According to OSHA, if the scaffolding had been inspected properly and replaced or repaired as necessary, the collapse could have been prevented and three lives could have been saved.

Capoera Construction was cited for:

• Failure to develop and implement a safety and health program
• Failure to provide competent personnel for scaffolding inspections
• Failure to provide adequate fall protection systems to workers
• Failure to train workers properly

Mast Climber Manufacturing Inc was cited for:

• Failure to have scaffolds designed by qualified people and constructed according to that design.
• Failure to provide strong scaffolding that is capable of supporting four times that maximum intended load.
• Failure to have scaffolding inspected by competent workers
• Failure to remove or repair damaged scaffolding

Andres Construction Services and Greater Metroplex were cited for:

• Failure to have scaffolding inspected by competent people
• Failure to provide fall systems to workers
• Failure to train employees properly

OSHA has proposed fines ranging from $86,800 for Mast Climber to $14,000 for Andres Construction Services.

OSHA sets down strict regulations for scaffolding materials and installation, and failure to follow these guidelines can lead to serious accidents, like the one that occurred in Austin this year. These deaths could have so easily been prevented if the workers have been provided fall protection systems, and if contractors had invested more time and money in scaffold design and installation.

The Texas construction accident lawyers at SMSH represent injured construction workers and families of workers killed in such accidents around the state of Texas. For a free evaluation of your case, please email us at info@smslegal.com, complete our online contact form, or call us toll-free 24/7 at (800) 282-2122.