New York Construction Injury Lawyers

Rock Tavern, N.Y., Contractor Fined $77,100 by U.S. Labor Department's OSHA for Fall Hazards at Lagrangeville Worksite

ALBANY, N.Y. -- An Orange County steel erection contractor faces a total of $77,100 in proposed fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for allegedly exposing its employees to fatal fall hazards at a Dutchess County construction site.

Gabriel Steel Erectors Inc. of Rock Tavern was cited for alleged willful and serious violations of safety standards at a supermarket construction site on Stringham Road in Lagrangeville following an OSHA inspection that began Aug. 3, 2006. OSHA found employees exposed to falls of 23 feet while welding and placing bundles of steel decking on upper levels of the building's framework, and to falls of 17 feet while entering or working on a boom lift. Fall protection was not used in either case.

"Falls are the number one killer in construction," said Edward Jerome, OSHA's area director in Albany. "This employer knew these employees required fall protection, yet elected not to ensure the use of this basic, common sense and legally-required safeguard."

As a result, OSHA issued two willful citations, carrying $75,000 in proposed fines, for these conditions. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations.

OSHA also issued three serious citations to the company, with $2,100 in proposed fines, for exposing employees to fall and struck-by hazards due to the improper placement of steel decking and to fall hazards from an overloaded boom lift. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

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