News Archive
Bovis and Galt fined
Released on 29/02/2008
Contractors Bovis and Galt are accused of 44 safety lapses that killed two firefighters in New York’s Deutsche Bank blaze last August. Together they are fined nearly half a million dollars. Bovis says it will appeal.
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed US$464,500 in fines against Bovis Lend Lease and John Galt Corporation for 44 safety violations at the Deutsche Bank tower in New York, where two firefighters were killed in a fire last August.
Letting workers smoke, blocking fire exits and allowing firefighting equipment to fall into disrepair were among the serious lapses that killed two men, the OSHA concluded on 19th February.
The two contractors were responsible for demolition and asbestos abatement in the building, which was condemned after one of the Twin Towers fell on it in the 9/11 attacks. Galt was issued three ‘willful’ and 22 ‘serious’ citations, carrying $271,500 in fines. Bovis was issued two willful and 17 serious citations, with $193,000 in fines for these conditions.
Each company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to request and participate in an informal conference with OSHA or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Bovis has said it strongly disagrees with the citations and will appeal.
The OSHA cited both Bovis and Galt for the following hazards:
- Failing to inspect and maintain firefighting equipment to ensure that the standpipe system was operational, and that sufficient water supply and water pressure were available for firefighting.
- Obstructing emergency exit access (including sealed emergency stairwells, emergency stairwells blocked by construction and unlighted stairwells).
- Inadequate emergency escape procedures.
- Unmarked exits.
- Lack of fire extinguishers, emergency alarm procedures and fire cutoffs.
- Failing to develop and follow a fire protection program.
- Smoking permitted in work areas.
- Temporary structures inside the building made of combustible materials.
- Scaffolds erected too close to power lines.
- Unprotected sides and edges of work areas, unprotected floor openings, missing or broken guardrails, and missing stair rails.
- Exposed live electrical parts, electric panel boards in wet locations and other electrical hazards.
Previous OSHA inspections at the jobsite had resulted in Galt being fined $88,500 for 26 violations and Bovis being fined $18,000 for five violations.
Paradise Energy Electrical Contractors Inc., an electrical subcontractor, also was issued five serious citations, with $6,250 in proposed fines, for a scaffold erected too close to a power line and other electrical hazards.
OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health. The agency issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
“Construction and demolition sites must be kept safe at all times for both employees and emergency responders,” said Louis Ricca Jr., OSHA’s acting regional administrator in New York.
“Employers must adhere to safety and health standards, and prepare completely and effectively for workplace emergencies,” said Richard Mendelson, OSHA’s area director in Manhattan. "Failure to do so can – and, in this case, did – cost lives.”
