On July 29, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued citations to RCS Construction of New Jersey for 26 serious and three other-than-serious health and safety violations. The construction contractor faces penalties of $71,400 for the violations.
OSHA received a signed formal complaint on February 11, 2016, and initiated a health inspection. The agency opened a safety inspection on April 7, 2016, based on a referral from a compliance officer regarding hazards associated with crane operation and the lack of machine guarding. The safety inspection also fell under OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Amputations.
The serious violations included:
- Hazards related to cranes.
- Workers exposed to hazardous chemicals, struck-by and electrical hazards.
- Obstructed exit routes and missing exit signs.
- Improper storage of propane fuel cylinders.
- Failure to implement a hearing conservation program.
- Lack of machine guarding and forklift maintenance and training.
- Lack of a hazard communication program.
RCS Construction failed to inform employees on how to use respirators safely, identify fire extinguisher locations and use relocatable power taps properly which all resulted in other-than-serious violations.
The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/RCS_1124618.pdf and http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/RCS_1137267.pdf.
RCS Construction has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
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