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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) www.osha.gov cited two contractors for allegedly violating safety standards after the tragic death of a worker who plummeted 90 feet from a tower in Epping, New Hampshire, last year.

OSHA investigated the accident and discovered that the workers employer and subcontractor, Bullins Painting Inc., of Eden North Carolina, neglected to provide the proper fall protection equipment. The general contractor on the New Hampshire tower project, Utility Services Inc. of Perry Georgia, failed to examine the fall protective gear before workers used them, especially vertical lifelines, as well as providing a ladder cage or other safeguards for tower access ladders.

“This case is a clear and grave example of the human cost incurred when required fall protection safeguards are absent, ignored or inadequate,” said Rosemarie Ohar, OSHA’s New Hampshire area director. “The loss of a worker’s life could have been prevented if these protective measures had been in place and in use.”

OSHA inspectors also identified more safety and health hazards for Bullins’ workers that posed potential threats to workers’ safety in their workplace environment. Bullins Painting was given three willful, 16 serious and one miscellaneous violation, totaling $187,800 in fines. Utility Services Company was issued one willful citation, two serious and three other violations, along with $93,000 in proposed fines.