A New Jersey construction company faces a proposed $71,400 fine and 29 federal citations for crane operation and chemical hazards, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
RCS Construction LLC at was putting its workers at risk of amputations and other serious injuries, the agency said in an announcement of the July 29 citations.
OSHA considers 26 of the violations to be “serious.”
The infractions include:
- hazards related to cranes
- workers exposed to dangerous chemicals, equipment hazards and electrical hazards
- obstructed exit routes and missing exit signs
- improper storage of propane fuel cylinders
- failure to create a hearing conservation program
- lack of machine guarding and forklift maintenance and training
- lack of a hazard communication program
“Regular inspections of cranes are a critical component of safe operation. Besides the hazards found related to the crane, OSHA cited many other violations at this worksite,” said Patricia Jones, director of OSHA’s Avenel Area office. “RCS Construction must correct all of these hazards promptly to protect its workers from needless injuries or worse.”
The inspections arose from a complaint delivered to OSHA in February and a subsequent referral from a compliance officer in April.
The citations are available here and here.
RCS Construction has 15 business days from the receipt of the citations to comply, ask for a conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before an independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
The company did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
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