OSHA Cites Morlan Enterprises for Willful Safety Violation

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Safety has been the hot topic of conversation throughout the wireless tower industry, so it’s mind blowing that a company would be cited for willful safety violations. On July 14th, two workers of Morlan Enterprises ,were free climbing, or climbing without safety lines, a 195-foot communication tower under construction without adequate fall protection in Coolville, Ohio. as a result, Morlan Enterprises has been cited for one willful and eight serious safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA has proposed penalties of $52,500. “Free climbing a communication tower is extremely dangerous, and it was this company’s responsibility to ensure appropriate fall protection was provided and used,” said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA’s area director in Columbus. “Employers and cell tower owners and operators must do everything possible to stop senseless, preventable tragedies in the communication tower industry.” Morlan Enterprises was contracted by New Era Broadband Services of Coolville to perform tower construction and antenna installation services at 20 locations in the Meigs County area. According to OSHA, “The willful violation cites the company for failing to ensure workers climbing the tower were using effective and adequate fall protection, including installing a climbing cable to the tower. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirement, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health. Eight serious violations were cited for failing to provide workers with training on fall hazards, provide personal protective equipment, such as shock-absorbing lanyards and hard hats, and requiring workers to purchase their own fall arrest harnesses and other protective equipment. Other violations involved failing to make provisions for prompt medical attention before starting work and having first aid kits available for emergencies.”

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