Company cited after workplace death of Gray man at Gatlinburg Convention Center

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — Appalachian Staffing Service has been cited following the workplace death of a Gray man at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in December 2023 .

The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent an investigator to the Convention Center to determine who employed the worker and what led to the death after receiving a report regarding a workplace fatality that occurred on Tuesday, Dec. 26 at 11:30 a.m. The victim was identified as Jeffrey Coker, 66, of Gray, Tennessee.

According to TOSHA, Coker and another employee were using a JLG Lift Model E300AJP so they could install rigging in the rafters of the Gatlinburg Convention Center. In the rafters, they reportedly left the lift and went through the rafters to rig raise motors that raise sound and light equipment. While working TOSHA said Cooker lost his balance and fell 32 feet to the ground.

According to the TOSHA report, it was determined that “none of the employees had received training to recognize the hazards of falling and the procedures to be followed to minimize these hazards.” Interviewed employees reportedly said that each person brought their own equipment. Most of the employees on the date of the accident were wearing climbing harnesses and single lanyards as their fall protection. TOSHA said that on the morning of the accident, the employees were working in the rafters without a personal fall arrest system.

In addition, TOSHA wrote that the “Convention Center does not have a horizontal lifeline installed and would require employees to use double lanyards to remain 100% tied off while working in the rafters.” On the day of the accident, those working in the rafters did not have double lanyards on.

In the citation and notification of penalty, TOSHA said that Appalachian Staffing Service did not provide training for each employee who used personal fall protection systems. TOSHA said that four employees were exposed to fall hazards and had not been trained on the use of personal fall protection systems. TOSHA also found that two employees were using a JLG Lift Model E300AJP to access the rafters 32 feet above the ground and did not use a personal fall arrest or travel restrain system. Next, TOSHA said that Appalachian Staffing Service did not ensure the adequacy, including proper maintenance, and sanitation of employee-owned protective equipment.

Finally, TOSHA said that Appalachian Staffing Service “did not ensure that protection system snap hooks and carabiners are not connected directly to webbing, rope, or wire rope unless they are designed for such connections.” TOSHA found that employees were wrapping the lanyard around a beam and connecting the snaphook of the lanyard back onto itself. In total, Appalachian Staffing Service has been ordered to pay $8,200.

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