Buzzi Unicem USA has been issued $62,500 in proposed penalties and citations alleging five serious violations related to an employee drowning after falling off a barge into the Mississippi River, the Labor Department said Thursday.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration determined the company didn’t ensure the employees who boarded the barge wore personal flotation devices when exposed to drowning hazards, didn’t install guardrails to protect workers from falling into the water, and didn’t train employees in first aid, according to the DOL.
Three employees boarded a barge, and one of the workers fell head-first into the river from ...