A construction company owner and foreman were convicted of homicide and other charges in relation to a fatal wall collapse at a New York City worksite. Jiaxi “Jimmy” Liu, owner of WSC Group Inc., and Wilson Garcia Jr., a foreman for the company, were both convicted at trial for the death of Luis Almonte Sanchez, […]
OSHA has joined with a task force of construction industry employers, unions and educators to help raise awareness about the high rate of suicide among construction workers. The task force seeks to highlight the work stresses seen as the causes of depression and suicidal thoughts and acts among workers in the construction industry, according to […]
A 42-year-old construction laborer died when he fell 25 feet as he was climbing the cross braces of a scaffold, according to a new report on the incident. The laborer was new to the trade and had only received informal on-the-job training, the Aug. 29 Washington State Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation (FACE) Program report […]
Believe it or not, EPA may add polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping to its hazardous waste list! A court ruled EPA must reconsider a 2014 petition to regulate PVC, vinyl chloride and associated phthalate plasticizers under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Rulemaking would end dumping PVC in landfills Suffice to say, such a move would […]
Falls from elevations are the most common cause of death for construction workers and the annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction highlights this entirely preventable hazard. This year, the week-long event from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) takes place May 2 through May 6. The Stand-Down is an opportunity […]
A Florida construction contractor was fined $50,000 for lying to OSHA following two inspections in October and December 2017. Alcir DeSouza, owner of DeSouza Framing Inc., pleaded guilty Jan. 26 to a felony count of making a false statement during an OSHA investigation. The court found DeSouza lied to OSHA inspectors after the agency conducted […]
Three Washington roofing contractors are facing more than $750,000 in fines for fall protection violations at different worksites across the state. All three companies are accused of allowing their employees to work on rooftops of homes without using fall protection and other safety-related violations. Allways Roofing, Wilson Roofing & Construction, and Valentine Roofing – all […]
A Colorado excavating company was cited by OSHA after a worker was killed in a trench collapse when his feet became stuck in mud under water that had accumulated in the 16-foot deep excavation. Inspectors found the company failed to use a protective system in the trench and allowed employees to work in the trench […]
A general contracting company has been sentenced to probation and to pay restitution to a dead worker’s estate in connection with the fatality. Workers weren’t using fall protection when the death occurred. Trustworthy LLC, dba Trustworthy Roofing and Siding, was sentenced to five years’ probation for violating OSHA standards leading to the death of an […]
