Federal workplace safety investigators have determined the death of Victor Javier Gamboa Cagiga, a construction worker at the Ellabell megasite, could have been prevented had his employer “followed legally required safety procedures.”
The megasite in Bryan County is the future home of Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America.
A press release issued by the U.S Department of Labor noted that workers employed by Eastern Construction Inc. "had been guiding an I-beam in place atop the plant's paint building when the fall occurred. One worker, walking along the top of the building's upper frame lost his balance and fell, resulting in the sharp edge of the structure cutting his safety line."
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Eastern Constructors Inc. did not provide proper equipment to protect workers from falls.
The press release goes on to say OSHA proposed $160,724 in penalties, per federal statute.
“The risks of serious and fatal injuries for people working at these heights are well-known and no step should ever be overlooked during the process of inspecting the worksite for hazards,” said OSHA Acting Area Office Director Jessica Bookman in Savannah. “Eastern Constructors’ failure to protect its employees from the leading cause of death in the construction industry are inexcusable and resulted in tragic consequences.”
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this is not the first time Eastern Constructors Inc. has been investigated. The company has been inspected regarding four other fatalities. The press release notes: “These inspections resulted in serious and willful violations for hazards related to steel erection, including fall protection.”
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: OSHA: Steel worker’s death at Hyundai megasite could have been prevented
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