Colorado Springs – Federal safety officials have ordered $14,000 in fines against a contractor on the Interstate 25 expansion project in Colorado Springs for improperly operating and inadequately inspecting a crane that tipped over, killing its operator.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued two citations Sept. 1 against Centennial-based Sema Construction Inc., area director John Healy said.
Humberto Rodriguez, 30, of Colorado Springs was crushed April 23 when the crane he was operating toppled while moving a 2,000-pound concrete barrier.
Healy said one citation was for the contractor’s “common practice” of operating cranes outside their listed specifications. The second was for a violation of requirements to inspect cranes daily, with more thorough monthly inspections.
