A Tragic Day on Site: Massachusetts Concrete Firm Admits OSHA Failures After Worker's Fatal Injury

It was a day etched in sorrow, April 28, 2021. For Adam Furtado, a 34-year-old worker, it marked the end of a promising life, cut tragically short on a busy Boston construction site. He was working with M.B. Concrete Pumping Inc. when, in a devastating turn of events, he became entangled in a hydraulic ram of a concrete pump. A nightmare scenario for any worker, and indeed, for anyone who hears about it.

Now, more than two years later, M.B. Concrete Pumping Inc., a company based right here in Massachusetts, has formally admitted to violations of federal workplace safety regulations that, it seems, contributed to that awful day. This admission comes as part of a settlement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, following their investigation into Furtado’s death.

OSHA's findings were, frankly, damning. Their investigation pointed to serious failures on the company's part to protect its workers. Specifically, three serious violations were cited: a failure to properly shut down and de-energize equipment – a critical safety step often known as "lockout/tagout" – before work began; a failure to shield employees from the very real hazards posed by operating machinery; and, crucially, a failure to properly train workers on these essential safety procedures. It paints a picture of systemic issues that, unfortunately, had tragic consequences.

Initially, M.B. Concrete Pumping Inc. faced a proposed penalty of $43,506. However, as is often the case with such settlements, that figure was reduced. Under the agreement, the company will pay $21,753, a sum that, while significant, pales in comparison to the human cost. What's more important, perhaps, is the commitment the company has made to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. They've agreed to implement new, stricter safety measures, hire an independent safety consultant to review and improve their protocols, and provide enhanced training to all their employees.

Mary Hoye, who serves as OSHA’s Area Director for Braintree, emphasized the importance of these admissions. She stated quite plainly that the company's agreement to these terms, and their commitment to improving safety, acknowledges that Adam Furtado’s death was preventable. And that, really, is the heartbreaking core of it all: a life lost that didn't have to be. It serves as a stark reminder, truly, for all employers to prioritize safety and ensure their workers come home safe at the end of each day.

It’s worth noting that Furtado’s family has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit, a separate legal action seeking justice and accountability. While this settlement with OSHA addresses the regulatory aspects, the emotional and legal repercussions of Adam Furtado’s death continue to unfold. This story, in many ways, underscores the vital importance of robust safety standards in the construction industry and the devastating impact when they are not upheld.