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Region 5 News Release:   V-74
Jan. 12, 2000
Contact: Juan Solano / Brad Mitchell
PHONE: (312) 353-6976

Total Penalties Exceed $170,000

HCH Miller Park Joint Venture, general contractor at the Miller Park construction site, Milwaukee, and four subcontractors received citations and proposed penalties today for alleged workplace safety violations unrelated to the July 14 crane collapse.

The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued citations to HCH, L.H. Sowles Company, Inc., Best Erectors, Inc., Oneida Erecting, Inc., and Milwaukee Plate Glass with proposed penalties of $75,600, $87,500, $2,250, $2,100 and $3,750 respectively. All citations were related to fall protection issues.

Alleged serious citations issued to HCH included allegations that the firm failed to protect workers from falling objects by not covering holes in outrigger scaffolding and failing to frequently inspect the job site, materials and equipment. A willful citation was issued to HCH for allegedly failing to protect workers on the concrete track beam from falls.

L.H. Sowles was issued a serious citation for allegedly allowing employees to be exposed to a fall hazard by not properly guarding a wall opening. A willful citation was issued to Sowles for failing to use fall protection on the east side of Miller Park where the fall hazard was greater than thirty feet. Sowles also received a repeat citation in regards to fall protection near the clock tower.

Best Erectors, Oneida Erecting and Milwaukee Plate Glass company were issued serious citations in regard to fall protection issues involving employees working west of the clock tower and for failure to properly guard a wall opening which also exposed employees to fall hazards.

OSHA defines a serious violation as one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazardous condition, and that the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.

A willful violation is defined as one which is committed with an intentional disregard for or plain indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and its regulations.

OSHA Area Director George Yoksas, Milwaukee, said the companies have 15 working days from the receipt of the citations to contest or accept citations, proposed penalties and abatement dates with the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission or to request an informal conference with the area director.

This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (312) 353-6976; TDD Message Referral Phone: 1-800-800-4571.