OSHA Cites Alabama Electric Company After Fatal Worker Fall

James Edward McCormick, 40, an employee of Titan Electric, was killed when he fell 40 feet from a concrete pole where he was adjusting electrical lights at Duck Samford Park in Auburn. Ala. An OSHA investigation determined that safety equipment was available on site, but was not being used.

"Falls are a leading cause of worker fatalities in the Southeast, and this tragic accident could have been prevented if the worker had been wearing fall protection equipment," said Ken Atha, OSHA's Mobile area director.

OSHA issued one willful citation to the company for allegedly failing to require an employee to wear fall protection equipment and six serious citations for alleged hazards including:

• Failure to place ladders on stable, level surfaces;
• Failure to ensure that the tops of ladders were supported;
• Failure to provide employees with fall protection training; and
• Failure to properly store acetylene gas cylinders to prevent unexpected flow of highly flammable acetone.