OSHA Issues $315K In Citations for a Partial Building Collapse in Downtown New Orleans

OSHA recently issued penalties totaling $315,536 to three companies and eight subcontractors related to alleged workplace safety violations at the construction site of a hotel in downtown New Orleans. OSHA alleges these violations led to the partial collapse of a building on Oct. 12, 2019 that killed three workers and seriously injured 18 others.

During its investigation, OSHA found the engineering firm failed to adequately design and review steel bolt connections affecting the structural integrity of the building, issuing one willful violation for the failure.

OSHA also cited the project’s general contractor for three serious violations related to inadequate egress from the structure. A steel erecting contractor was also named in the penalties for failing to maintain structural stability of building.

The penalties sent to subcontractors cited a variety of OSHA violations, including emergency egress training, inadequate egress, fall hazard training, and safety hazards.

The companies have 15 days to comply, respond to, or contest the citation.
 

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Tags: construction, construction safety, fall prevention, injury prevention, osha, osha enforcement, osha fine, osha penalty, worker safety, workplace safety