OSHA Issues $168,000 Fine For Crane Deaths of Two Workers

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a $168,000 fine to the Mass Bay Electrical Corp for various safety violations linked to the deaths of two workers.

34-year-old John Loughran of Quincy and 34-year-old Joseph L. Boyd III of Fall River died on April 12 when a crane on which they were working tipped over. When OSHA officials investigated the job site, they determined that both men lacked the necessary skills to operate the crane. In addition, officials say that supervisors failed to follow the proper procedure for setting up and operating the crane.

The citations against Mass Bay Electrical Corp include willful violation of workplace safety standards and several violations linked to improper operation of a crane.

OSHA's Brenda Gordon released a statement soon after the fine was issued, saying that that the employer failed to use the necessary and readily available information to safely operate the crane. This negligence subsequently contributed to the deaths of two workers

"These deaths were preventable," said Brenda Gordon, OSHA’s director for Boston and Southeastern Massachusetts. "The employer did not refer to or use readily available and necessary information that would have allowed this work to be conducted safely."

OSHA has strict standards in place regarding the use of cranes and other types of heavy machinery, including proper certification. Current standards state that anyone who uses a crane must be certified and/or accredited in one of the following four ways:

1. Accredited Testing Organization -- valid for 5 years in the U.S., this is the most common certification for operating a crane.
2. Audited Employer Program -- also valid for 5 years, the Audited Employer Program is not portable.
3. US Military License -- obtained through specialized training with the U.S. military, this certification is good for 5 years.
4. State License -- as the name suggests, a state license is only valid in the respective state of its issuance. State crane licenses are valid for no longer than 5 years.

It's unclear whether or not John Loughran or Joseph L. Boyd IIl had the necessary certification to operate a crane. Nonetheless, OSHA investigators concluded that the two men did not possess adequate training and skills for the machine, for which the employer is liable.

After receiving the fine, Mass Bay Electrical Corp has 15 days to respond. If no response it given, they will be required to pay the fine by default.

Do you think OSHA was justified in issuing the fine? Let us know in the comments section below!