Katelyn Walker Mooney Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy | Official Website
A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has concluded that a Huntsville countertop installation company failed to prevent the death of a 33-year-old employee, who was struck by a heavy stone slab. The incident occurred at a job site in Huntsville, where workers from Huntsville Granite and Marble LLC were removing stone slabs using a forklift.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) determined that the slab became unsecured due to an improperly secured load and a damaged rigging hook missing its safety latch. OSHA identified several violations of federal regulations by the company, including not developing safe procedures for moving stone slabs, allowing the use of damaged equipment, and failing to evaluate forklift operators' performance regularly.
Joel Batiz, OSHA Area Office Director in Birmingham, Alabama, stated: "Huntsville Granite and Marble didn’t uphold its duty to keep workers safe. With the right procedures, equipment, and training, this tragedy could have been avoided. We call on employers to make workplace safety a priority and use OSHA resources to safeguard their employees."
As a result of these findings, OSHA issued five serious citations against Huntsville Granite and Marble for exposing workers to hazards such as being struck-by or crushed-by falling objects. The agency proposed penalties totaling $29,035 for these violations.
Huntsville Granite and Marble LLC is a family-owned business established in 2006 that serves North Alabama and Southern Tennessee. The company has 15 business days from receiving its citations to comply with them or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
