The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has imposed fines totalling $315,000 on two Houston-based contractors for exposing employees to safety hazards during the demolition of Friendswood High School in June. An investigation found that the companies did not comply with federal requirements for an engineering survey to be conducted before work commenced.

According to a DOL news release, the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) discovered that ICI Construction Inc. and Emanuel Enterprises LLC failed to carry out the necessary survey and allowed the demolition to proceed despite the identified safety hazards. Consequently, four workers were injured when a roof collapsed at their worksite. One worker later died from his injuries. The investigation further revealed that employees were instructed to continue working in the hazardous building.

"Ignoring federal standards and the company’s own policies prevented them from identifying a load-bearing wall that was shown on construction drawings," said OSHA Area Director Mark Briggs in Houston. "This willful disregard for worker safety was a tragic mistake that cost a worker his life."

ICI Construction served as the general contractor on the project, with Emanuel Enterprises acting as the demolition contractor, according to the news release. OSHA levied fines against both companies, including additional penalties against Emanuel Enterprises for three safety violations related to inadequate protection of workers from silica exposure and improper use of respirators. Under federal law, OSHA fined Emanuel Enterprises LLC $175,010 and ICI Construction Inc. $140,633.

The news release states that both companies employ approximately 50 employees each; ICI Construction Inc. has been operating since 1981 and Emanuel Enterprises LLC since 2022. Both firms have 15 business days to contest the fine, comply with it or request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director.