Landscapers fined in death of employee

PORTLAND – The federal agency overseeing workplace safety has fined a Falmouth landscaping company for an accident in May that killed a 19-year-old employee who fell from the tailgate of a pickup truck.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration found Coastal Lawn Care did not provide safe working conditions, which led to the accident that killed Timothy J. Michaud Jr. of South Portland, according to last month’s citation.

Michaud was sitting on the tailgate of a truck doing work for the landscaping company last May when the tailgate gave way. He fell to the ground and suffered severe head injuries; he died three days later.

According to the OSHA citation, the company should not have allowed workers to ride in the bed of the truck.

Coastal Lawn Care is required to take the corrective steps such as providing workers with appropriate seating and safety belts.

During the investigation into Michaud’s death, federal officials found two additional violations. The company will be fined $450 for failing to use proper containers to store gasoline and $1,000 for failing to keep injury logs.

Ted Fitzgerald, a spokesman for OSHA, said Coastal Lawn Care could pay fines totaling $3,550 or challenge the citation in front of an administrative law judge.