Orange City, FL - A Holly Hill-based paving contractor gets the maximum penalty under law for an incident which led to the death of one of their employees.
Pavemax Asphalt Services was fined $16,814 recently for safety violations in the May 1st accident which killed 72-year-old Ulysees Tolbert, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Tolbert was operating a paving machine when he was run over by that machine in front of a medical office on Harvey Strickland Boulevard near Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City.
OSHA Jacksonville Area Office Acting Director Buddy Underwood says Tolbert lacked the proper training to use the equipment and that he was standing on the equipment while it was in motion.
“This tragedy could have been prevented if employees were trained properly on operating equipment safely,” Underwood added.
Police say Tolbert was reversing the equipment when he fell from the machine. Co-workers were able to stop the machine but had to call for help to lift it off of him.
Tolbert was pronounced dead at the scene by Orange City Fire Rescue. A large, heavy-duty wrecker was brought to the scene to lift the paving machine so that the body could be removed.
Pavemax has 15 business days to comply with the ruling, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings to an independent commission.
