Texas A&M Stadium Contractors Face $131,000 in OSHA Fines After Worker Fatality
While former Texas A&M star Johnny Manziel makes headlines for his wild weekend in Las Vegas, the university is in the news for OSHA citing two contractors involved in the $450 million renovation of its football stadium.
Lindamood Demolition Inc. and Texas Cutting & Coring face OSHA penalties after the agency launched an investigation following the Dec. 3 death of Lindamood employee Angel Garcia.
According to OSHA’s investigation, Garcia was operating a skid-steer loader to support a 3,340-pound concrete stub while a Texas Cutting & Coring employee used a circular saw to cut the stub from its support column. The stub caused the skid-steer to be overloaded, and it tipped over a ramp wall, falling more than 70 feet to the ground.
Garcia was ejected from the skid-steer when the machine struck a horizontal beam during its fall, according to OSHA. The 28-year-old died when he fell four stories to the ground.
"These experienced contractors failed to provide employees with safe demolition procedures despite concerns from workers," said Casey Perkins, OSHA's area director in Austin. "Employees had to work under the load and directly beside the skid-steer where they could be struck by the equipment or heavy, concrete debris. This disregard for worker safety is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
Lindamood received a willful citation – carrying a $56,000 fine – for allegedly exceeding the operating capacity of the skid-steer loader, routinely loading it with concrete until obvious signs of tipping were seen.
Texas Cutting & Coring received a willful citation – with a $63,000 fine – for allegedly exposing workers to the hazard of being struck by the skid-steer loader and concrete.
Lindamood received a $7,200 serious citation for two violations regarding its alleged failure to provide effective fall prevention measures and ensure that stop-logs were used to prevent equipment from falling into open holes.
Texas Cutting & Coring also received a serious citation – with a $4,500 fine – for allegedly failing to provide fall protection.
OSHA noted that it has placed Irving, Texas-based Lindamood in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law.
The proposed penalties total $130,700.
The companies have 15 business days from receipt of their citations to comply or contest OSHA’s findings.