HONOLULU—The Hawaii State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ (DLIR) Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH) today announced that it has issued citations to Color Dynamics, Inc. for exposing workers to falls and electrical hazards. The investigation was triggered on September 11, 2013, when an employee fell approximately 50 feet and sustained fatal injuries. Color Dynamics, Inc. will have an opportunity to contest the citations.The safety violations were related to work on a flat roof 50 feet above the ground during September 2013. Employees were not adequately protected from falls while working at elevated locations. Contrary to the HIOSH standards, Color Dynamics, Inc. did not provide guardrails or nets and did not enforce the use of or provide personal fall arrest systems in good condition in all elevated work locations. HIOSH standards require the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems for work 6 feet or more above the surface. Employees also were not trained in the methods they could use to protect themselves from a fall.
As a result, Color Dynamics, Inc. was cited for two serious violations for deficiencies in the company safety program, four serious violations for failing to provide adequate fall protection to employees working in elevated locations, two serious violations for failing to give and document adequate fall protection training, and one serious violation for failing to ground electrical power cords. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known about.
In addition, an other-than-serious citation was issued because Color Dynamics did not provide water for its employees on the job site. Other-than-serious violations are those in which injuries are expected to be treatable by first aid measures.
Penalties for the two citations totaled $63,250.
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 HIOSH at (808) 586-9116.
Under the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Law of 1972, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. HIOSH’s role is to ensure these conditions for Hawaii’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit https://labor.hawaii.gov/hiosh.