|
U.S. Department of Labor | |
||||
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
 |
|
OSHA News Release
2002 - 09/17/2002 - Numerous Scaffolding Hazards Bring Staten Island Company $292,500 In OSHA Fines Fall Protection Special Emphasis Program Prompts Inspections |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
|
Region 2 News Release: III-02-09-17-112-NJ/NY Date:, Sept. 17, 2002 Contact: Leni Uddyback-Fortson Phone: (617) 565-2075 Numerous Scaffolding Hazards Bring Staten Island Company $292,500 In OSHA Fines Fall Protection Special Emphasis Program Prompts Inspections STATEN ISLAND, NY -- Numerous and repeated employee exposures to scaffolding hazards at two construction sites have resulted in OSHA citations and $292,500 in proposed fines against New York Stucco, Inc., Staten Island, N.Y. The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today cited the company for alleged violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act at two construction sites, located at 1002 Route #1 North in Woodbridge, N. J. and 1650 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, N.Y. The firm has until October 3, 2002 to contest the citations. According to Robert D. Kulick, area director for OSHA's Avenel, N.J. office, inspections were conducted at both sites as a result of a special emphasis program focused on fall protection, the number one hazard on construction sites. As a result of the Woodbridge inspection, initiated on March 13, 2002, the company was cited for three willful violations, five repeat violations and one serious violation, with proposed penalties totaling $167,500. Violations include the company's use of frayed or worn electrical cords, and failure to: use hard hats, fully plank scaffold platforms, provide fall protection for employees on scaffolds, provide safe access to and from scaffold platforms, securely brace scaffolds, secure scaffold poles, and train scaffold workers. The Staten Island inspection, initiated April 8, 2002, yielded citations for three willful violations, two repeat violations and one serious violation, with proposed penalties totaling $125,000. Violations include the company's failure to: ensure that supported scaffolds were erected on firm foundations, fully plank scaffold platforms, provide employees safe access to and from scaffold platforms, provide fall protection for employees on scaffolds, brace tubular welded frame scaffolds, and train scaffold workers. "New York Stucco's refusal to comply with OSHA requirements perpetuates an unsafe work environment for its employees," says Patricia K. Clark, OSHA regional administrator in New York, "Persistent and blatant non-compliance from employers is unacceptable and will not be tolerated." OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the OSH Act and regulations. A repeat violation is one in which the employer has been cited during the past three years for substantially similar infractions of the law. A serious violation is one where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and that the employer knew or should have known of the hazard. The investigations were conducted by the Avenel Area Office, at 1030 St. Georges Avenue, Suite 205, Avenel, N.J. Telephone (732) 750-3270. ### U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7773 or TTY (202)693-7755. |
|
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
 Back to Top |
www.osha.gov | www.dol.gov |
Contact Us | Freedom of Information Act | Customer Survey Privacy and Security Statement | Disclaimers |
||
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 |
||
