Two fined after accidents. PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Federal regulators have proposed fines of USD511,000 for DNRB Inc and USD38,780 for Superior Steel Products Inc following materials handling equipment-related fatalities.

DNRB, doing business as Fastrack Erectors, was cited for seven willful violations and three serious ones.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) placed the company in the agency's severe violator enforcement program after an investigation into the cause of a 25 July, 2014 fatality.

A 22-year-old apprentice ironworker fell more than 30 ft. (9.4 m) to his death while standing on a steel girder on a building under construction in Kansas City, Missouri.

Fastrack Erectors failed to provide fall protection and allowed workers to climb both scissor lift guardrails to access the steel frame and decking and the rails of the aerial lift basket, according to OSHA region 7.

Makeshift devices on scaffold platforms increased working heights.

OSHA says Fastrack did not inspect fall-arrest systems before use and failed to instruct workers on the use and application of fall protection equipment.

OSHA says Fastrack Erectors violated its safety manual and a signed contract with the site's general contractor, St Louis, Missouri-based Arco National Construction-KC Inc. The contract required subcontractor personnel who worked at heights higher than 6 ft. (1.8 m) to be provided with adequate fall protection.

Separately, OSHA cited Arco for four serious violations with proposed penalties of USD24,000.

Fastrack Erectors of Pacific, Missouri employs 40 workers specialising in structural steel, miscellaneous steel, pre-engineered metal buildings, ornamental metal handrails and precast installations.

Meanwhile, in Idaho, OSHA region 10 found that Superior Steel Products failed to protect its employees from forklift hazards.

A 30-year-old welder died on the job on 4 August, 2014. He was riding in an unsecured basket that fell off forklift tines about 9 ft. (2.7 m) onto a concrete floor. The worker landed on his head.

In addition, investigators found confined space, flammable liquid and respiratory hazards in the workplace.

Superior Steel Products of Caldwell, Idaho manufactures steel and aluminium storage tanks for holding crude oil, aviation fuel, transportation fuel, fertilizers and chemicals.

OSHA is an agency of the US Department of Labor.