Window-washing company cited for safety violations three times before fatal fall in Tacoma
The company that employed a window washer who fell to his death Thursday in Tacoma has been cited for safety violations three times since 2010, including a 2013 finding that it failed to ensure employees used proper fall protection equipment, state and federal records show.
United Building Services of Seattle was fined $1,040 and ordered to take corrective action to resolve the violations, according to inspection records from the state Department of Labor & Industries and the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration.
Rebecca Furgason, a spokewoman for the company, said Friday the violations have been addressed. Beyond that, she said, “I don’t know enough to give comment.”
Timothy Thomas Sargent Jr., 30, died Thursday after falling nearly 10 stories from atop the DaVita building at 1423 Pacific Ave.
Matthew Erlick, a Labor & Industries spokesman, said the agency is conducting an investigation that likely won’t be concluded for three to six months. Preliminary information was not available for release, Erlick said Friday.
Furgason said Sargent had worked for United Building Services for about five years. His father and brother previously worked for the company, she said.
Sargent was designated as “a lead,” and “made sure everybody’s ropes were just perfect,” Furgason said.
“He was one of our star guys,” she said. “We’re just trying to figure out now how do we go on from here. It was one of those freak, momentary lapses.”
The company suspended operations Friday to mourn Sargent’s passing, she added.
United Building Services has been in operation for 22 years and provides a variety of exterior building maintenance and services, according to the company website.
“We provide extensive training and company support to our employees,” according to the website. “All of our employees wear the uniform, are provided with the very best equipment and product technology and are given numerous safety and efficiency seminars to ensure a high degree of job safety and quality control.”
State and federal records show that in 2010 the company was found to have violated state requirements regarding the anchoring of a work platform used on the exterior of the Madison Building in Seattle.
United Building Services was not fined for the violation and took corrective action to address it, the records show.
In April 2013, the company was found to have committed two “serious” violations during a job on the Umpqua Bank building at 1498 Pacific Ave. in Tacoma.
“The employer did not ensure that a ladder used to access an upper level had all side rails extend at least three feet above the landing surface which measured approximately 19 feet in height,” a state inspector wrote.
“Four employees were exposed to a fall height of approximately 19 feet which could potentially result in major broken bones and/or permanent disabilities.”
The company was fined $200.
In November 2013, United Building Services was cited for another serious violation, this one during a job on the Columbia Bank building at 1102 Broadway in Tacoma.
“The employer did not ensure that workers assemble and wear their personal fall arrest equipment before they approach the point of suspension in that one employee was standing on the top of a parapet setting up his ropes without fall protection,” a state inspector wrote.
“One employee was exposed to a fall of approximately 50 feet, which is likely to result in permanent disability or death.”
The company was fined $840 in that case.
This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 11:44 AM with the headline "Window-washing company cited for safety violations three times before fatal fall in Tacoma."