The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Tuesday it cited an Alabama maintenance and repair contractor after a worker died in August 2023 while performing repairs on a screw conveyor system atop a cement silo.
OSHA cited Birmingham-based G&R Mineral Services Inc. for three serious violations for failing to remove employees from areas surrounding unguarded screw conveyors, failing to establish procedures to control hazardous energy and failing to inform a host employer of their lockout/tagout procedures.
OSHA proposed $38,715 in penalties.
The worker suffered fatal wounds after becoming caught in the conveyor.
Also cited was the company that G&R Mineral hired to perform the work – Port Everglades, Florida-based HM Southeast Cement LLC. The company was cited for three serious violations and assessed $43,554 in proposed penalties.
OSHA said HM Southeast failed to perform proper inspections, failed to establish procedures for controlling hazardous energy and failed to coordinate properly with its contractor.
Both companies have 15 business days to contest the citations and proposed penalties.