Federal safety officials are proposing a $5,000 penalty against a Pennsylvania-based company for an accident at Denver International Airport where one of the firm's workers was hit and killed by a DIA runway sweeper/broom.
The company, Rampart Hydro Services, is contesting the citation and penalties by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Rampart says DIA employees caused the Aug. 6 accident by allowing the sweeper to enter the company's "work area" on runway 34 Right/16 Left while the contract employees were being supervised by DIA personnel.
"A DIA escort accompanied Rampart at all times," the company said in its response to OSHA. "The escort did not notify Rampart that the DIA sweepers would approach Rampart's employees nor did the escort request Rampart's employees to vacate the runway thus eliminating the danger," the company said.
DIA hired Rampart, of Coraopolis, Pa., to remove rubber deposited on runways by the tires of landing aircraft.
Rampart employee Robert Genzler, 46, was the driver of a "blaster" truck that was loosening rubber on the runway with high-pressure water. The rubber-removal operation calls for another Rampart employee to drive a company "vacuum truck" behind the blaster, to pick up the loosened debris.
Genzler, of Beaver Falls, Pa., was struck by the DIA sweeper when he left his truck about 5:10 a.m., "without the use of a reflective vest," OSHA's citation said. Genzler had left to repair "the runway weather guard," or joint sealant, "and to measure how much of the runway work zone he had finished spraying," the citation said.
OSHA proposed a $2,500 penalty for the lack of reflective clothing and the same amount for Rampart workers not affixing "danger tags" to cones in the work zone.
OSHA cannot cite DIA because it is a governmental entity, said Herb Gibson, Denver- area director for the federal safety agency.
In contesting OSHA's actions, Rampart said Genzler was issued a reflective vest and the company should not be penalized because he left it on the seat of his truck.
