A Missouri landscape company owner was fined after an employee was injured on the job
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) issued three citations to Cherry Landscape Services, a landscape design, construction and maintenance company based in Columbia, Mo., ABC17 News reports.
Nick Murphy said he was working for Cherry Landscape when he fell while trimming a tree in September. Murphy claims owner Tim Cherry didn’t provide him with the proper training or safety equipment. He broke his ankle and seriously injured his shoulder when he fell, his mother told ABC17 News.
The violations handed down by OSHA call the employer, Cherry, negligent to safety procedures and label the violations as “serious.” The company was cited for the following, according to OSHA documents:
- Citation 1 Item 1—“Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered;”
- Citation 1 Item 2—“The employer did not provide training to each employee who is required…to use personal protective equipment;” and
- Citation 1 Item 3—“The employer did not ensure that each affected employee wear a protective helmet when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects.”
Cherry Landscape will be fined about $8,500. The company has until Jan. 4 to contest the violations.
