U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA Fines Deffenbaugh Industries Inc. in Omaha, Neb., $125,000 Following Fatality of Refuse Collection Employee

OMAHA, Neb. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Deffenbaugh Industries Inc. of Omaha for two alleged willful violations and proposed penalties totaling $125,000 following an employee fatality in November 2006.

A Deffenbaugh employee sustained fatal injuries when a six-yard refuse collection container swung free from the back of a collection truck, crushing the employee between the truck and the container.

"Deffenbaugh Industries Inc. failed to protect its employees from known hazards which contributed to the death of an employee engaged in refuse collection,” said Charles E. Adkins, CIH, OSHA's regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. "The citations and penalties OSHA is announcing today will ensure that this employer takes responsibility to correct safety and health hazards. All employers should evaluate their workplaces to ensure employees are operating equipment safely.”

The willful citations allege that the employer failed to maintain trunnion safety latches on a mobile refuse collection vehicle and to maintain a safety latch on container lifting hooks. Willful violations are those committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations.