Four Contractors Cited for Safety Violations

Aug. 20, 2001
OSHA cited a Pennsylvania-based general contractor and three New Jersey subcontractors for allegedly violating federal workplace safety standards.

OSHA cited a Pennsylvania-based general contractor and three New Jersey subcontractors, working at the site of a hotel being constructed in Secaucus, N.J., for allegedly violating federal workplace safety standards.

The proposed penalties total $102,700 for two alleged willful violations and 19 alleged serious violations.

The action results from an investigation initiated in February where the general contractor, Marquis Stevens Inc. of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., is engaged in the construction of a new Hilton hotel.

An OSHA compliance officer who observed serious fall hazards on the site notified the site manager of the danger.

"This employer, despite repeated requests by OSHA, failed to take action to correct several hazards including falls from heights up to 50 feet," said David Ippolito, OSHA area director.

Marquis-Stevens Inc. was cited for the two alleged "willful violations," which carry total fines of $77,000, for failing to provide adequate protection from falls from the building roof and on open-sided floors.

The company faces an additional $9,600 in fines for six "serious violations," including failing to train employees in fall protection and other site-specific hazards, failing to ensure workers wore hard hats and eye protection, allowing employees to work under a suspended load, failing to make sure portable electrical equipment was properly grounded, and failing to provide adequate anchorage for cable lifelines.

Of the three subcontractors, R. Correa Construction Corp. of Kearny and Wall Stucco Inc., of Monroe, were also both cited for a lack of fall protection training and hard hat violations.

R. Correa, which faces $9,600 in fines, also was cited for failing to correctly install the cable lifeline used for fall protection, failing to protect lifelines from mechanical damage, and failure to anchor them to devices with adequate strength.

Wall Stucco, which faces $5,500 in fines, was additionally charged with failing to ensure that scaffolds were fully planked and the scaffolding was erected on firm and even footings. It was also cited for failing to provide safe means of egress from scaffolds.

Valairco Inc. of Green Brook was cited for unsafe use and transportation of compressed gas cylinders, which carries a $1,000 penalty.

by Virginia Foran

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

Sponsored Recommendations

Committing to Safety: Why Leadership’s Role in Safety Excellence is Key

Jan. 13, 2025
Leadership has the power to transform an organization through their behavior and vision, which can result in the creation of an organizational culturethat supports safety excellence...

Speak Up! Cementing "See Something, Say Something" to Drive Safety

Jan. 13, 2025
Many organizations promote "see something, say something" to encourage their people to intervene and make work safe. But most don't go far enough to equip teams with the skills...

The Truth and Challenges of Cultivating Chronic Unease

Jan. 13, 2025
DEKRA announces its latest white paper, “The Truth and Challenges of Cultivating Chronic Unease,” as a definitive look into why being vulnerable to incidents strengthens our commitment...

Mitigating Risks: Strategies for Safeguarding Workers in Hazardous Workplaces

Jan. 13, 2025
Join our expert team in taking on the challenge to make safety part of your organization’s DNA as work, the workforce, and workplaces evolve.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!