A 34-year-old workers’ fatal fall at a zipline business in October 2021 could have been prevented if safety measures were taken, an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reported.
OSHA cited La Jolla Zip Zoom Ziplines of Pauma Valley, Calif., for four serious safety violations and proposed a total of $24,861 in penalties, the U.S. Department of Labor reported March 10.
“La Jolla Zip Zoom Ziplines failed to meet their obligation to protect their employees,” Derek Engard, OSHA area director in San Diego, said. “If they had simply provided the proper protective equipment, this senseless tragedy could have been prevented.”
OSHA determined when the employee grabbed a zip-line harness to steady a customer landing on the tower platform, both individuals were pulled off the tower, according to the Department of Labor. The worker fell approximately 50 feet.
The fatal fall could have been prevented if the required safety measures had been set in place and followed, the DOL news release reported. The investigation concluded La Jolla Zip Zoom Ziplines failed to install a guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest system.
OSHA reported the company did not try to determine what hazards existed at the workplace. It also failed to report the work-related hospitalization in a timely manner, according to the Department of Labor.
