Labor Dept's OSHA fines 11 contractors (totaling $135,700)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.wktv.com/news/local/17917899.html

Story Created: Apr 18, 2008 at 2:28 PM EDT

Story Updated: Apr 18, 2008 at 3:14 PM EDT

BUFFALO – Eleven contractors, chiefly from western and central New York, have been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for failing to protect their employees against fall hazards during the Walden Galleria Mall construction project in Cheektowaga, N.Y. The employers face combined penalties totaling $135,700.

“What’s disturbing is the breadth and frequency of fall hazards observed throughout this jobsite, encompassing a wide variety of construction trades,” said Arthur Dube, OSHA’s area director in Buffalo. “This situation is unacceptable. Falls are the number one killer in construction work. It takes only one misstep, be it from a roof, scaffold, ladder or into a hole, to cause death or disabling injury.”

OSHA’s conducted an inspection in response to a complaint alleging fall hazards. The agency identified a variety of such hazards, including lack of fall protection for employees working at heights of 6 feet or greater; missing or inadequate guardrails; an uncovered storm drain; ladder deficiencies; a missing stairway, ramp or ladder; an employee tied off to the basket of a boom truck while standing on a roof; and lack of fall protection training and programs.

The largest fine, $78,500, was proposed against GVH Development Inc., the mall project’s general contractor, for alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of fall and other safety standards. Also cited were the following subcontractors: CBO Glass <$16,000>; Guard Contracting Corp., demolition and carpentry <$12,000>; Alpha Masonry Construction Co. <$7,500>; E.B. Atlas Steel Corp.<$5,400>; Greater Electric Corp. <$4,500>; Single Ply Systems Inc., roofer <$3,600>; S. Federowicz Construction Inc., concrete flatwork <$2,500>; JC Construction, drywall <$2,250>; Edwards Excavating LLC, plumbing and excavation <$1,950>; and Gordon & Zoerb Electrical Contractors Inc. <$1,500>.

Detailed information on fall protection, including an interactive eTool, is available on OSHA’s Web site at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/index.html. Each company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA’s Buffalo Area Office; telephone [phone].

OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health. A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. Repeat citations are issued when an employer previously has been cited for similar hazards, and those citations have become final.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA’s role is to promote the safety and health of America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.