‘Death was avoidable’: OSHA finds Kansas City company failed to protect workers again

A Kansas City engineering services company allegedly failed to protect an employee who was electrocuted while servicing a heating and cooling system last summer — the second such death at the company in just over a year, according to a federal investigation.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed a fine of nearly $200,000 after federal investigators found that U.S. Engineering Services failed to follow required procedures that would have prevented the worker’s death, according to a news release from the U.S. Labor Department.

“Safety is a core value for our organization, and we are committed to the health and safety of all of our team members,” said Brendan Rittel, chief financial officer and general counsel for U.S. Engineering Company Holdings. “We look forward to continuing our work with OSHA on this matter. However, because these citations remain open to appeal, we have no additional comment at this time.”

A fourth-year apprentice heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician for the company was electrocuted while repairing a heating and cooling system on Aug. 24 at the University Academy charter school at 6801 Holmes Road.

“This worker’s death was avoidable. Employers must follow well-known electrical safety procedures set forth in federal regulations and industry-recognized practices,” said OSHA Area Director Karena Lorek in Kansas City.

“Companies whose employees work with electricity must take all necessary steps to make sure they are protected from dangerous electrical hazards so they can return home safely.”

OSHA found that U.S. Engineering Services, a subsidiary of U.S. Engineering, failed to de-engerize equipment and prevent equipment from unintentionally starting during repairs or maintenance, according to the news release.

The company also failed to conduct hazard assessments to identify personal protective equipment needs of field employees at work sites as well as allowed a damaged extension cord to be used at the site.

At the time of the electrocution, the worker was cleaning a chiller unit in the school’s mechanical room. While the fan motor was turned off, neither a lock or tagout was placed on the control switch to ensure that electrical power had been drained from the coils of the air handler, according to the release.

Investigators also determined that neither arc flash protective equipment or lockout and tagout equipment was onsite at the time of the accident. OSHA cited U.S. Engineering Services for three serious and two repeat violations and proposed a fine of $197,642 in penalties.

The violations were similar to the ones identified after another technician for the company was electrocuted in July 2021 in Wichita. The company settled the case and paid a nearly $37,000 penalty assessed by OSHA.