Fatal N.Y. Fire Results in Fines for 12 Companies

Aug. 7, 2000
OSHA cited 12 companies in New York and proposed penalties\r\ntotaling $101,600 against the firms for 80 alleged serious violations\r\nof OSHA standards.

OSHA cited 12 companies in New York and proposed penalties totaling $101,600 against the firms for 80 alleged serious violations of OSHA standards.

The action results from a six-month investigation following a Jan. 31 fire at the building in Manhattan''s garment district, in which an employee of one of the building''s tenants was killed as he attempted to scale down the outside of the building.

A serious violation is defined as a condition which exists where there is a substantial possibility that death or serious physical harm can result.

The violations for which the employers were cited included:

  • no fire alarm;
  • obstruction on fire stairs;
  • locked exits;
  • exit aisles too narrow;
  • failure to maintain sprinkler heads;
  • failure to maintain stairway exit doors;
  • failure to provide fire extinguishers;
  • failure to provide emergency evacuation training;
  • failure to mount fire extinguisher in a visible place;
  • failure to provide adequate headroom in an exit corridor;
  • failure to post appropriate exit signs and, on door that could be mistaken as exits, signs reading "not an exit;" and
  • failure to practice good housekeeping.

The companies have 15 working days to contest the citations.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

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.

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