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Lee Jones & Son Construction Co. is facing federal fines following a fatal construction accident in West Fargo, North Dakota, according to sources. A 28-foot steel beam fell onto construction worker Trevor Skarphol on May 25 as he was on site building a new addition onto a high school.
Officials from the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated the site and issued citations for three serious safety violations. The violations were related to the use of anchor rods in the erection of steel columns. Proposed fines total $21,000.
According to a West Fargo police report, the steel beam have in fact been bolted in place but somehow became loosened.
“All columns shall be evaluated by a competent person to determine whether guying or bracing is needed; if guying or bracing is needed, it shall be installed,” states OSHA regulations. “Anchor rods (anchor bolts) shall not be repaired, replaced, or field-modified without the approval of the project structural engineer of record.”
“OSHA alleges these were related to the conditions that caused the death,” said Eric Brooks, acting OSHA director in Bismarck.
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