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Region 6 News Release:   USDL-OSHA-00-109-9-5
Tuesday, September 5, 2000
Contact: Diana Petterson
PHONE: (214) 767-4776, ext. 222

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Red Simpson Construction in Shreveport, for safety violations totaling $70,000, announced the U.S. Department of Labor.

The OSHA investigation began in response to a complaint of an electrical accident that occurred on July 9 at the Louisiana Street Sub Station in Shreveport. The accident resulted in the hospitalization of an employee who suffered third degree burns and the loss of both arms above his elbows.

Red Simpson employs approximately 1500 employees company-wide and had four employees at the construction site on the day of the accident. The company=s headquarters is in Alexandria, LA.

OSHA cited the company for one repeat violation totaling $70,000. The employer did not adequately guard or insulate energized parts or ensure that employees wore the appropriate personal protective equipment when working closer to the energized parts than the minimum distance required by OSHA standards. A repeat violation is defined as one in which an employer has been cited previously for a substantially similar condition.

A This company has been cited four separate times in the past three years for similar violations that resulted in an employee being electrocuted," said John J. Deifer, OSHA area director in Baton Rouge. "Basic safeguards were not followed at this job site. A combination of the use of personal protective equipment, adhering to safe work practices, and effective supervision could have prevented this accident and reduced the risks of electrical contact to the other workers.

The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citation to comply, request an informal hearing with the Baton Rouge Area Director, or to contest the citation and penalty before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.