A dairy processing cooperative in Wisconsin where a driver fell from his death last summer “willfully ignored” federal safety laws that require adequate fall protection for drivers, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ruled.

George Oberding, 50, died in August after he fell from the top of his trailer onto a concrete floor after unloading a tanker. The driver suffered severe head trauma and multiple skull fractures.

Associated Milk Producers of Blair, WI, faces fines of $72,500 as a result of the investigation. Associated Milk Producers was issued a willful citation for allegedly failing to fully implement and properly install fall protection for workers performing milk unloading operations, as well as two serious citations for not providing training, evaluation and certification for operators of powered industrial vehicles.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that independent milk truck drivers weren’t required to use fall protection at any of its 13 Midwest milk intake facilities, but company drivers were.

Bechel Bros., a trucking company from Plum City, WI, was issued one willful citation alleging the company failed to provide proper fall protection while requiring its workers to wash out milk trailers from above. The proposed penalty is $14,000. The trucking company also was placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance.

“Associated Milk Producers and Bechel Bros. willfully ignored the law and failed to provide adequate fall protection for employees at the Blair intake facility,” said Mark Hysell, OSHA area director in Eau Claire, WI, according to a statement. “Associated Milk Producers has demonstrated an awareness of the OSHA requirement by installing adequate fall protection at its 12 other Midwest intake facilities.

The dairy producer wasn’t the only such company cited by OSHA, Hysell announced.

“Additionally, seven other milk hauling companies failed to protect their workers from falls during the intake process and while cleaning milk trailers,” Hysell said. “Employers are responsible for knowing what hazards exist in their workplaces and ensuring that workers are not exposed to risks that could result in injury or death.”