Contractor Fined Over $334,600 for Safety Violations

Cheltenham Construction Services, a Missouri-based contractor, has faced substantial fines exceeding $334,600 from the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) for a number of different workplace safety infractions. This huge penalty arises from repeated violations, including fatal fall hazards and inadequate safety measures.

Repeated Fall Hazard Violations

During siding and roofing work in Lake St. Louis and O’Fallon in 2023, OSHA inspectors discovered that employees of Cheltenham Construction Services were exposed to deadly fall hazards on two occasions within a two-month period. This really big safety violation triggered OSHA’s action.

History of Citations

OSHA has issued a total of seven citations against Cheltenham Construction Services since 2015, indicating a pattern of non-compliance with federal safety standards.

OSHA’s Concerns

According to OSHA Area Director Bill McDonald in St. Louis, Cheltenham Construction Services’ repeated failures to adhere to federal safety standards put workers at risk of fatal falls from elevations. That is a leading hazard in the construction industry and people working with heavy equipment at a construction worksite should be protected more. McDonald emphasized the urgency of addressing these safety issues to prevent injuries and fatalities.

Statistics

The construction sector is particularly prone to workplace fatalities, accounting for nearly one in five workplace fatalities in 2021. Falls, slips, and trips were responsible for over one-third of construction related accidents, with the construction sector contributing to 46.2% of all fatal falls, slips, and trips in 2021, as per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That is in no way a small percentage.