OSHA Imposes $257,700 Fine on Alabama Utility Contractor Following Tragic Deaths of Three Workers
This week, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) imposed a hefty fine of $257,700 on an Alabama utility contractor. This action comes six months after a tragic incident in which three workers lost their lives due to sewage gas exposure while installing sewer lines.
Construction Labor Services, located in Eight Mile, near Mobile, Alabama, was cited for failing to provide essential training and emergency response plans for workers operating in confined spaces. According to OSHA and local news reports, the three men were working inside a manhole for a local water and sewer utility company when they were overwhelmed by toxic gas and subsequently collapsed.
The company has a two-week window to either pay the fine or contest OSHA’s findings. Established in 1981, Construction Labor Services has built a reputation as a significant contractor for underground utility lines in the region. The firm is owned and operated by Debra Bishop.
In terms of worker compensation, Alabama’s laws provide a burial allowance of up to $6,500 and two-thirds of a deceased worker’s weekly wages to dependents for up to 500 weeks. This compensation framework is more generous than what is offered in Mississippi but falls short compared to the benefits available in Georgia, as noted by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute.
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This week, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) imposed a hefty fine of $257,700 on an Alabama utility contractor. This action comes six months after a tragic incident in which three workers lost their lives due to sewage gas exposure while installing sewer lines.
Construction Labor Services, located in Eight Mile, near Mobile, Alabama, was cited for failing to provide essential training and emergency response plans for workers operating in confined spaces. According to OSHA and local news reports, the three men were working inside a manhole for a local water and sewer utility company when they were overwhelmed by toxic gas and subsequently collapsed.
The company has a two-week window to either pay the fine or contest OSHA’s findings. Established in 1981, Construction Labor Services has built a reputation as a significant contractor for underground utility lines in the region. The firm is owned and operated by Debra Bishop.
In terms of worker compensation, Alabama’s laws provide a burial allowance of up to $6,500 and two-thirds of a deceased worker’s weekly wages to dependents for up to 500 weeks. This compensation framework is more generous than what is offered in Mississippi but falls short compared to the benefits available in Georgia, as noted by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute.
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