Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Judge upholds OSHA citations and $249k in penalties against New York contractor Flintlock Construction Services LLC for scaffold hazards at Manhattan hotel construction site



July 6, 2016

Judge upholds OSHA citations and $249k in penalties against New York
contractor
Flintlock Construction Services LLC for scaffold hazards at Manhattan hotel construction site

Date of action: May 20, 2016

Type of action: Decision and Order

Names of defendants: Flintlock Construction Services LLC

Background: Flintlock Construction Services LLC of Mamaroneck, New York, was the general contractor for the construction of a 23-story hotel at 325 W. 33rd St. in Manhattan. An inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that Flintlock failed to protect employees working on scaffolds from potentially fatal falls of up to 26 feet. In September 2013, OSHA cited Flintlock for willful and serious violations and proposed $249,920 in penalties.

Flintlock contested its citations and penalties to the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The contractor alleged that some violations were not willful because its corporate principals did not have knowledge of the hazards and Flintlock made at least a minimal attempt at compliance.

Decision: After review, Chief Administrative Law Judge Covette Rooney upheld all the citations and penalties. The judge found Flintlock had knowledge of the hazards and the authority to have its subcontractors correct safety hazards. The court also held Flintlock responsible for the oversight of safe working conditions and determined it was the controlling employer at the "325 Project" worksite. The judge's decision also ordered Flintlock to pay the $249,920 in penalties.

The full decision and order can be read here.

Quotes: "This was a clear case of an employer knowingly placing its employees at risk of deadly or disabling injuries caused by the number one killer in construction work - falls. Judge Rooney's decision upholds our findings and reiterates an important fact: Employers cannot ignore their legal responsibility to safeguard their employees and adhere to workplace safety standards," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York.

"Employers should take note of this decision and the fact that the U.S. Department of Labor will not hesitate to take appropriate legal action to safeguard employees' rights to a safe and healthful workplace. Their employees' lives and well-being depend on their complying with the law," said Jeffrey Rogoff, regional solicitor of labor in New York.

Flintlock Construction Services LLC has filed a petition for discretionary review with the review commission.

The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Manhattan Area Office and the case is being litigated for OSHA by the Labor Department's regional Office of the Solicitor in New York.

Court: U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission

Docket Number: 14-1384