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Oct 1, 2009 11:59 pm US/Eastern
Police: Bridge Worker Wasn't Wearing Harness
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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NewsChopper 2 flies over the McKees Rocks Bridge.
KDKA
A worker is dead after plummeting 100 feet while working on the McKees Rocks Bridge.
Police say 54-year-old Michael L'Hereaux, from Oberlin, Ohio, was not wearing his safety harness – a clear violation of OSHA rules.
His death comes weeks after OSHA officials warned area contractors to give better protection to their workers.
"Our standards require anytime an employee is exposed to a fall of six feet or more above an adjacent level to a lower level, fall protection is required," Robert Szymanski, a spokesperson for OSHA, said in August.
On August 18, 53-year-old Roy Pfoertner fell while working on the roof of The Pennsylvanian. That was the fourth fatal construction fall in less than a week.
In the McKees Rocks Bridge accident, Pittsburgh Police say the other workers were wearing safety harnesses.
Blame still could rest with the employer.
"It's the employer's responsibility to provide fall protection, to meet our standards and not only to provide, but enforce the use of it," Szymanski said.
Half of all construction deaths are caused by a fall.
The Odyssey Contracting Corporation, based in Houston, Pa., employed L'Hereaux. They did not immediately comment.
Stay with KDKA for the latest details.
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