Philadelphia, New Jersey Contractors Face Total $537K in Penalties for Safety Hazards

On May 24, 2021, inspectors with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) observed roofing workers at Venue Estates at Smithville Green, a senior community housing development under construction in Eastampton, New Jersey, exposed to falls and other dangerous safety hazards.

As part of the agency’s Regional Emphasis Program for fall hazards in construction, OSHA initiated an inspection at the Burlington County site and, under the same program, conducted seven additional inspections there in June, July and August. OSHA identified numerous violations by four contractors who now face a total of $536,687 in proposed penalties.

OSHA investigations resulted in citations to hold the following companies accountable:

• Max Contractors Inc. faces $426,096 in proposed penalties for five willful and 12 serious safety citations after four separate inspections at multiple locations on the Easthampton work site. OSHA determined that the Philadelphia-based sheathing contractor exposed workers to falls, did not ensure safe use of ladders and failed to provide eye protection or hard hats. OSHA cited Max Contractors in January, August and October 2021 for similar violations on other projects.
• Pine Contractor Corp. received a willful OSHA citation for not providing fall protection. The company faces a $90,111 penalty. OSHA has cited the Newark contractor after eight prior inspections in 2021 for violations similar to those identified in this investigation.
• Stars Vinyl Siding of Philadelphia received a citation for exposing workers to falls and additional safety hazards, and OSHA has proposed $16,384 in penalties.
• El Primo Construction LLC, a Neptune City roofing contractor, failed to provide fall protection and now faces $4,096 in proposed penalties.

“The companies in this case – two of which were previously cited for fall and other similar hazards – failed to fulfill their legal responsibility to provide a safe workplace and exposed their workers to serious, life-altering injuries,” said OSHA’s Area Office Director Paula Dixon-Roderick in Marlton, New Jersey, in a U.S. Department of Labor press release.

Venue Estates at Smithville Green is a 55+ active adult community and is a multiemployer job site. The project developer is Lennar Corp., a home construction and real estate company headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Each employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

Topics New Jersey Contractors