Masonry workers repeatedly exposed to head injuries, falls, electrocution by employer Gaspar Fuentes

Employer name: Gaspar Fuentes

Sites: Both sites were in Fort Worth, Texas

Date Inspection Initiated and What Prompted the Inspection: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration began investigating two Gaspar Fuentes work sites in March 2015 following a referral about unsafe conditions at the commercial and residential home masonry company. The agency launched a separate investigation as part of the Regional Emphasis Program for Construction in April 2015.

Investigation findings: OSHA cited the employer for two repeat and 11 serious safety violations. Both repeat violations were issued for failing to provide hard hats to protect workers from falling objects. The company was cited for the same violation in January 2012. The 11 serious violations were for exposing workers to trips, struck-by, falls and electrocution hazards associated with scaffolding setup and use.

Proposed penalties: $41,600

View Citations at:

• http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/GasparFuentes1051253.pdf
• http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/GasparFuentes1048637.pdf

Quote: "Employees were exposed to very hazardous, yet very preventable, conditions on these job sites," said Jack Rector, OSHA's Area Director in Fort Worth, Texas. "What will it take for this employer to fix these dangers and make sure its workers are protected against serious, deadly incidents?"

Information: Gaspar Fuentes has up to 20 employees who work in four- or five-man crews at different job sites. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Fort Worth Area Office at 817-581-7303.