Labor inspectors fine Kentucky masonry company $13,750 following worker’s fatal fall

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – Labor inspectors have issued nearly $13,750 in fines to masonry contractor Schnell Contractors after one of its workers fell to his death in October 2023 on a job site.

Mark Gibson, 53, was working on the facade at the former Brown Forman bottling plant when he fell. Inspectors cited numerous issues related to the scaffolding.

The inspection summary said Gibson was replacing some planks on the scaffold he was working on when he fell through the opening, falling 63 feet to his death. He was not wearing a safety harness to protect him from falling.

The labor inspection cited five violations of workplace rules surrounding scaffolds.

Inspectors found the platform wasn’t long enough at its end, there wasn’t a safe way to access the scaffold, and there wasn’t a daily inspection of the scaffold to determine if it was safe.

Gibson wasn’t protected by a safety harness or any sort of guardrail to prevent a fall.

There was no record of any training on fall protection.

Schnell Contractors has contested the citations. That could potentially result in reduced fines if they’re successful.

Company executives did not return a phone call after WAVE left a message.

Copyright 2024 WAVE. All rights reserved.