Anchorage Contractor Fined $280K After Worker Crushed by Collapsed Wall

Anchorage contractor North Country Services is facing a $280,000 fine along with four "willful" citations in the September death of a worker crushed by a collapsing wall during demolition work. According to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the worker died when a concrete retaining wall he was preparing for demolition collapsed.

According to the Department, North Country's owner did not conduct the required engineering survey of the demolition site to determine the risk of collapse and failed to ensure the structure was braced or stabilized against such a collapse. The Department also says the owner failed to provide safety training and instructions to his employees.

In addition to the state fines, the municipality fined North Country for conducting demolition work before local authorities had issued a permit.

On top of safety violations, North Country's owner allegedly inaccurately classified workers at the site as independent contractors which allowed him to avoid payments for their taxes, unemployment insurance and workers' compensation premiums.