OSHA Strikes Again: NJ Contractor Gets $71,400 Fine for 29 Safety Violations

From crane and electrical hazards to improper storage of propane fuel, RCS Construction was slapped with a heavy $71,400 fined by OSHA. Out of 29 citations, 26 were termed as “serious”. Some of the other references included:

• Chemical violations
• Equipment violations
• Non availability of Hazard Communication program
• Lack of forklift training and maintenance
• And others…

And there is a reason for such intensified actions by OSHA. New York was rocked with high profile construction crane accidents in recent months. These included:

• February: a 1 passerby killed by a crawler crane that collapsed on the streets of Manhattan, injuring several others along with property damage
• July: another crane crashed on Tappan Zee Bridge in New York without causing any fatalities

Triggered by February crane crash accident, Mayor Bill de Blasio presented a crane safety plan that covered the following points:

• New restrictions for crawler cranes during windy conditions
• Doubled fines for operators not following safety precautions
• Pedestrian alert / awareness near crane sites
• Notifying buildings near crane site

This four point agenda was fiercely resisted by construction companies as being too difficult to implement. The New York crane safety working group has recommended withdrawal of older cranes that don’t have any modern safety equipment.

Safety training is not a farfetched idea these days. Forklift and heavy equipment training for crane operators, individuals and companies are easily available and would definitely save lives, property and make society a much safer place.

Source: Kim Slowey / ConstructionDive.com

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