Safety violations on CoL construction site lead to $140,000 penalty
Daniel Silva
Issue date: 10/13/06 Section: News
The construction company E&R Erectors Inc. of Bensalem, Pa. was issued a citation with a proposed penalty of $140,000 for safety violations committed during construction of the University's new College of Law building. The company was hired as a sub-contractor for steel assembly by P. Agnes, Inc., the University's contractor for the building.
The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Organization (OSHA), which enforces safe working conditions in the U.S., cited the construction company for its lack of fall protection while performing structural steel activities and steel beam connection work.
"Over the years, Drexel has enjoyed a very positive and credible working experience with P. Agnes, Inc. on construction projects that have taken place on campus," said Anthony Caneris, senior vice president of Student Life and Administrative Services. "The OSHA fines levied against the sub-contractor for employee safety violations during steel assembly has since been completed. We have asked P. Agnes, Inc. to investigate the matter."
"The issue was put in as a referral," said Al D'Imperio, the area director of OSHA's Philadelphia office. "That means [safety violations] were either seen by a federal agent or one of our own people."
This is not the first time E&R has been cited for safety violations. In fact, the company has been cited for eight violations in the past. In October 2003, the company received $6,800 in fines while working on Citizen's Bank Park, home to the Philadelphia Phillies.
"Once we issue the citation, they have the right to come in, sit down with us, discuss it and settle it with OSHA," D'Imperio said. "Or they can go to court and contest the violations. Then there's a hearing on that."
Issuing a violation can take up to six months. After that, it can take more than a year before everything is settled.
Fall hazards can lead to serious injury or death. Three days prior to E&R Erectors' inspection, there was an inspection at an airport where an iron worker had fallen and died, according to D'Imperio. This incident was unrelated to E&R.
More than one-third of all construction-industry deaths occur due to falling from heights, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2004, 57 percent of the 39,167 inspections conducted by OSHA were in the construction industry.
"It is E&R Erectors' responsibility to ensure their employees are doing their job in accordance with OSHA safety regulations," Caneris said. "Drexel continues to have full confidence in P. Agnes, Inc. and the professional manner in which they handle their projects. Thankfully, there were no incidents in which a construction worker was injured."
The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Organization (OSHA), which enforces safe working conditions in the U.S., cited the construction company for its lack of fall protection while performing structural steel activities and steel beam connection work.
"Over the years, Drexel has enjoyed a very positive and credible working experience with P. Agnes, Inc. on construction projects that have taken place on campus," said Anthony Caneris, senior vice president of Student Life and Administrative Services. "The OSHA fines levied against the sub-contractor for employee safety violations during steel assembly has since been completed. We have asked P. Agnes, Inc. to investigate the matter."
"The issue was put in as a referral," said Al D'Imperio, the area director of OSHA's Philadelphia office. "That means [safety violations] were either seen by a federal agent or one of our own people."
This is not the first time E&R has been cited for safety violations. In fact, the company has been cited for eight violations in the past. In October 2003, the company received $6,800 in fines while working on Citizen's Bank Park, home to the Philadelphia Phillies.
"Once we issue the citation, they have the right to come in, sit down with us, discuss it and settle it with OSHA," D'Imperio said. "Or they can go to court and contest the violations. Then there's a hearing on that."
Issuing a violation can take up to six months. After that, it can take more than a year before everything is settled.
Fall hazards can lead to serious injury or death. Three days prior to E&R Erectors' inspection, there was an inspection at an airport where an iron worker had fallen and died, according to D'Imperio. This incident was unrelated to E&R.
More than one-third of all construction-industry deaths occur due to falling from heights, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2004, 57 percent of the 39,167 inspections conducted by OSHA were in the construction industry.
"It is E&R Erectors' responsibility to ensure their employees are doing their job in accordance with OSHA safety regulations," Caneris said. "Drexel continues to have full confidence in P. Agnes, Inc. and the professional manner in which they handle their projects. Thankfully, there were no incidents in which a construction worker was injured."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Candace
posted 1/19/10 @ 7:10 PM EST
It is good that OSHA was on top of this matter and cited the company for failing to provide fall protection. This is a matter that shouldn't be taken lightly; there are far too many lethal accidents that occur due to falling on the job. (Continued…)
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