The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ruled that Tower King II of Cedar Hill, Texas was at fault in the equipment collapse that caused the death of three men while working on a Miami Gardens TV tower on September 27, 2017, according to the Miami Herald.
The fine, totaling $12,934, is the maximum allowed by law: $4,311.33 per life lost. The crew consisted of Brachton Barber, 23 of Longwood, FL; Benito Rodriguez, 35, of Tampa; and Marcus Goffena, 31, of Sidney, OH. They were in the process of replacing an antenna for WSVN-TV (Channel 7) when the gin pole collapsed, the ‘cause of death’ as determined by OSHA.
A U.S. Department of Labor news release stated that the Texas-based tower contractor, “failed to ensure the capacity of the rigging attachments were adequate to support the forces imposed from hoisting loads.”
OSHA office director Condell Eastmond told WPLG-TV, “This tragedy underscores the importance of having a qualified individual conduct an analysis before performing construction work on communication towers.”
Tower King II has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply to or contest the findings before the independent OSHA Review Commission.
March 29, 2018
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