OSHA has cited Swain Construction in Omaha with one alleged willful and 14 alleged serious violations for failing to train workers on heavy equipment and other hazards. Proposed penalties total $118,350.

OSHA's inspection began in April following the report of an incident involving a skid steer loader that seriously injured a worker.

"Employees cannot be expected to work in an environment where deficient or damaged machinery is being operated," said Charles Adkins, OSHA's regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. "The workers operating machinery must have the necessary training in safe operation before climbing into a piece of heavy machinery."

The willful violation stems from the company's failure to adequately train the operators of heavy equipment in the proper and safe operation of the equipment. OSHA issues a willful violation when an employer exhibits plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

The serious violations stem from failure to tag or remove from use unsafe equipment or machinery; absent or deficient guardrail or stair rail systems; deficiencies in the lockout/tagout of potentially hazardous energy sources; inadequate or missing machine guarding; equipment used for compressed air in disrepair; unlabeled and unguarded electric wiring; absence of hazard communication; lack of jobsite inspections; and failure to ensure that personal protective equipment was used. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard that an employer knew or should have known about.