A New York-based excavation and grading company faces almost $375,000 in penalties for alleged violations which resulted in the death of a worker who fell from the rooftop of a Brooklyn demolition site in May.
An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigation found that Richmond Construction Inc. failed to provide and ensure the proper use of fall protection "that would have prevented" the worker's death, a U.S. Department of Labor press release said.
"Richmond Construction Inc. ignored its legal responsibility to protect workers from falls and the result was the loss of a worker’s life," OSHA Area Director Kay Gee, based in New York, said in the Dec. 3 release. "Complying with OSHA standards is not optional. It is required to ensure workers return home unharmed at the end of the day."
OSHA Area Director Kay Gee in a 2019 image
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The 49-year-old worker fell approximately 60 feet from the roof of Flatbush Savings Bank at 1045 Flatbush Ave., according to NBC 4 New York. The worker's name was not released.
OSHA cited Richmond Construction for nine "willful, repeat and serious violations" of workplace safety standards and recommended $374,603 in penalties, the release said.
Among the violations, OSHA alleges Richmond Construction Inc. failed to provide employees with effective fall protection safeguards and eye and ear protection during work. Other alleged violations include failing to inspect the roof of the site for safety, failing to ensure workers properly connected their lanyards and failing to test that its lifeline system could support at least 5,000 pounds.
"Investigators also determined that the company failed to train its workers to recognize and avoid fall hazards," the news release said.
OSHA gave Richmond Construction 15 business days to comply, ask for an informal or contest the findings.
