The federal investigation into April’s Fort Lauderdale crane crash found five workplace safety violations by two companies that led to one death.
Proposed fine: $61,299, “the maximum amount that OSHA can legally recommend,” the U.S. Department of Labor said.
That’s split between Mableton, Georgia’s Phoenix Rigging & Erecting ($38,715) and Canonsburg, Pennsylvania’s Maxim Crane Works ($22,584), a crane rental company. The companies can pay the propsed fines; request an informal meeting with the area director; or contest the citations, which is the option companies’ seem to be taking recently.
OSHA’s summary of 27-year-old Jorge De La Torre’s death says on April 4, around 4:30 in the afternoon, “an employee working for building contractor on a multifamily residential project was waiting to start the crane climbing process to the platform when a cable snapped. The employee died when he fell over 30 stories (320 feet) to the pavement below.”
The Department of Labor’s release notes the other worker on the platform with De La Torre “was wearing the required fall protection and tied off” while De La Torre’s lanyard wasn’t anchored .