Jefferson City landscaping company receives OSHA fine after worker dies at construction site

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A federal agency fined a Jefferson City-based Schrimpf Landscaping after a worker died at a construction site earlier this year.

A report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the company received two serious fines, both worth $9,446.

OSHA started investigating the company after Jacob Schrimpf, 31, was killed during construction work at the corner of Missouri Boulevard and Highway 50 on Jan. 28.

Reports said the man died after a retaining wall partially collapsed on top of him. Emergency crews pronounced him dead at the scene.

The fines were issued on July 8, just before the administration's six-month window to file citations expired.

According to OSHA documents, Schrimpf Landscaping allowed employees to work in a hazardous environment and failed to instruct employees on how to avoid unsafe conditions.

"The employer is failing to protect employees from potential permanent disabling and fatal injuries, such as but not limited to, broken bones, paralysis, and or crushing as a result of a struck-by and caught-in hazard as a result of installing retaining wall blocks," the website said.

It included the company needed to "follow (the) manufacturers' guidance on backfilling when installing wall blocks."

Documents sent from the administration said the landscaping company has until Aug. 6 to contest the fines or pay them.

The documents included the company must also certify that corrective actions were taken and sent back to the US Department of Labor.

The occupational safety website said the investigation into the company had not closed as of Wednesday.

ABC 17 News reached out to Schrimpf Landscaping for a comment but did not hear back.