VOSHA cites communications company for willful safety violations, $217,000 in penalties

The Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Advanced Digital Communications, Inc. for six alleged willful violations following an investigation of the company’s vehicles, equipment and safety procedures. VOSHA was notified of alleged safety hazards and sent a letter to the company with instructions to respond to the allegations and provide the corrective action taken to abate the safety hazards. Advanced Digital Communications’ response stated that the company corrected all alleged safety hazards. Further information from employees indicated that the hazards were not corrected and employees continued to be exposed to serious hazards during the workday. Based on this information VOSHA conducted an inspection of their Vermont Worksite.
Advanced Digital Communications is home based in Tewksbury, Massachusetts and had approximately 30 employees installing and repairing cable communications lines throughout the State of Vermont. The investigation revealed that the Company failed to correct hazards by operating company vehicles with defective equipment; cracked windshields, inoperative brake lights, back-up lights and directional signals, missing windshield wipers and missing or expired state vehicle inspections certification.
The company was also cited for not providing employees with safety equipment such as first aid items, eye protection and traffic control warning devices. VOSHA manager Robert McLeod said, “VOSHA issues willful citations when there is evidence of the intentional disregard of the Occupational Safety and Health Act or plain indifference to its requirements.”
The agency said it issues serious violations when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard that the employer knew or should have known about. The conditions found exposed employees to the risks of crushing injuries, falls, severe trauma, fractures and electrocution. “Safety and health standards must be adhered to in order to protect employees from injuries and illnesses,” said Van Belanger, VOSHA Chief Compliance Officer.
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