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Region 6 News Release: USDL-OSHA-98-106-11-25
Wednesday, November 25, 1998
Contact: Diana Petterson or Beverly Sepulveda, (214) 767-4776, ext. 222 or 221

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited National Service Cleaning Corp. of Houston, Texas, for alleged safety and health violations at a New Orleans construction site and has proposed penalties totaling $56,275.

The alleged serious and willful violations were discovered during a general schedule construction inspection on June 22. The construction company was subcontracted to perform interior demolition work at the future site of the Ritz Carlton Hotel currently under construction in New Orleans.

The serious violation was for failure to remove or secure various gas cylinders in the building prior to the demolition work. A serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.

The willful violation was for failure to remove fragmented or broken glass windows to prevent further shattering and employee exposure to the jagged edges of broken glass at the demolition site as requested by the general contractor. A willful violation is defined as an intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and/or regulations.

National Service Cleaning Corp, which employs about 1,500 nationwide and nine at the New Orleans construction site, has 15 days from the receipt of the citations to either comply or to contest the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.