Big Canoe POA Worker Dies On Unsafe Jobsite; OSHA Launches Investigation

CORRECTIONS / FEB 3 ’22: Some corrections / clarifications have been made within the article.  They are noted as such, and made in red.

Jeff Mullins was 59 years old.  According to his Obituary, he had a wife, children and grandchildren.  He had extended family, and he had friends.  He had a proper funeral with pallbearers to carry the casket. This newspaper read some related Facebook Pages, and one short and simple comment said so much,

“He was a good one“. 

We also know he was a sub-contract worker, getting up early when most are still cozy in their warm beds, going out in the heat, going out in the cold, going out in the rain.  He died on the job, showing up to do hard work, in a time that so many won’t even show up to do barely anything.  He helped to install the guardrails that keeps the visitors and elderly drivers of Big Canoe safe on the roads.  He died building the fire station that would serve to protect your properties.  For these things alone he deserves some sort of acknowledgement from the Big Canoe Community, because he died on our watch, while in service to our community.  This leads me to the first purpose of this article…. to properly acknowledge Jeff Mullins death to the community.

As a property owner in Big Canoe, who has lived here on and off going on 23 years, I want to acknowledge and THANK Jeff Mullins posthumously, and also all of the men and women that come into Big Canoe to do the work that keeps this place running, beautiful and safe, so that people like myself and others can enjoy the wonders of Big Canoe, even as our Gates keep those same locals out.  I want to send my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Jeff Mullins.  I want to encourage this community (that is blessed with so much) to start some sort of fund for his family.

I also want to apologize to those same people for the disgraceful way that the leadership of our Community has handled the death of one of yours.  And it isn’t just me.  I was reached out to other Property Owners that were highly disturbed at the failure of the Big Canoe POA (and Smoke Signals Newspaper) to even acknowledge that this death occurred, or to openly address the circumstances surrounding his death.  A couple of people indicated that attempts to discuss this were met with clear attempts to “shut down” discussion.  The fact that there has been ZERO public acknowledgement of this death from either the POA, or the Smoke Signals (the POA’s communication lapdog) speaks volumes, and really raises some questions as to WHY this silence appears to be so deliberate and coordinated.  As I researched this situation, several disturbing facts came out which could offer the beginning of some answers.  This leads into the 2nd purpose of this article….

….to alert the Community of Big Canoe of some facts surrounding the working conditions that may have led to the death of Mr Mullins, and to encourage some serious discussion and ongoing investigation regarding just exactly HOW Big Canoe Management is running this place?  Here are some facts:

1. The location of the jobsite where the accident occurred was Auxiliary Firehouse #5, located at the intersection Of Wilderness and McElroy.  Pickens County Parcel 047B 104 001.  The fire engine that the POA ordered ended up being too big to fit in it, so the building was being enlarged.  It is unknown if the POA had competently planned in advance for this, and there is substantial question about how this project has been planned and overseen, or if engineering or architectural plans were obtained before construction.
2. FOBC put in Open Records Requests to Pickens County to see if a Building Permit was obtained prior to work, and it has been confirmed that Big Canoe POA was operating this construction site illegally, without a building permit.
   Partial Correction: A narrative is being circulated that the jobsite did not require a permit due to it being an existing building.  FOBC is of the understanding that the size and footprint of the building was increased, which WOULD normally require a permit.  It is unknown if the enlargement of the building was correctly presented to Pickens County Planning Authorities.  IF Pickens approved the work to proceed without a permit, and had been presented the correct information, then that would be on the County, not Big Canoe.
3. FOBC heard, and has subsequently confirmed via a January 26 2022 email from OSHA, that this jobsite death was legally required to be reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Association (“OSHA”) within 8 hours, and that Big Canoe failed to do so.  The death was subsequently reported to OSHA by another source, and OSHA has opened a formal investigation. A source that spoke to OSHA at early stages indicates to this Newspaper that the OSHA investigator was appropriately upset about this, and indicated a thorough investigation regarding conditions would take place.  It is understood through sources that a hearing will be held.
   
4. FOBC has obtained the initial “Police Incident Report“, and one short snippet of statements made really stood out, and will be shared below.
   

FOBC Sources have indicated that this project has possibly been disorganized from the beginning, and that initially it was attempted with Big Canoe Employee labor.  There have been rumors of unsafe conditions.  Subsequently one of our subcontractors was pulled in to help, of which Mr. Mullins worked for.  Everything to this point is unsubstantiated by FOBC.  One thing we do know as a fact, is something written in the Police Incident Report:

“Mullins was walking along a ladder which was positioned across the top of the roof…. Mullins was stepping onto another ladder when he fell approximately seventeen feet, hitting the floor head first.”

This next part is a bit of educated and experienced opinion:  In my younger days I worked on plenty of jobsites, including framing houses, and building highrises down in Atlanta.  The first thing you learn on a jobsite as a young man, beaten into your head by the older guys is… SAFETY FIRST.  I can tell you right now that no jobsite I have ever worked on would consider stringing a ladder across a rooftop span, to use basically as scaffolding to walk and work from, as what you would call “Safe”.  That really starts to add some credibility that there may have been some employee concerns about unsafe conditions.  Correction: The family has reached out to say that it is their understanding that the Police Incident Report was incorrect regarding the use of a “ladder” as a walkway, and that indeed Mr Mullins was using his own “Walkboard”.  If true, this would change the safety profile, however, this is not a guarantee that the walkboard was properly secured.  It still doesn’t address the issue of no harnesses being used, or other “rumours” which are not confirmed.  The bottom line is that FOBC has now heard 4 explanations being circulated for this death (blackout, heart attack, slipped, drugs involved), and that is a red flag, and it is more reason that official statements should have been put out.  Bottomline is that we still do not know how Jeff Mullins died. 

Safety Issues are a Top Down Concern.  Project Managers are responsible for setting the standards (for example, making sure proper scaffolding and safety harnesses are available and used).  The kind of guys that wake up and go to work in the cold to keep this country running, and that build things, are tough.  They take pride in the fact that they can get it done no matter what the conditions they are put under.  In this world of historical luxury, ease and technology there is NO EXCUSE for the Big Canoe POA not providing the safest working conditions and oversite possible, so that men like Jeff Mullins get to go home at night to their families.

We talk a lot about the sacrifices of the brave men and women Law Enforcement, Fire, Rescue and Military.  Even teachers and the medical professionals have huge unions that make sure the public is always singing their praises.  I think people have forgotten some of the real unsung heroes of this country… the men and women that wake up every day and get the hard jobs done.  And we just lost “a good one”.

Rest in peace Mr Mullins.  I didn’t know you.  Thanks for your services.  We will try and make sure your family is taken care of.

This Article Shareable Online at our FOBC Public News Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FocusonBigCanoeGA

Note: Many of the “rumors” that are floating around the community (i.e. Mr. Mullins died because of a heart attack, or a blackout) were not addressed in the article, but are addressed in our FB Group Discussion.

Peace,
– david / publisher
Focus on Big Canoe, GA

* a publication of The Mountains Voice