Contractor cited in collapse during parking garage pour

Sources: Occupational Safety and Health Administration; CP staff

OSHA has proposed $38,000 in fines for Cleveland Cement Contractors Inc. following an investigation into the partial collapse of a downtown Cleveland casino’s second floor parking garage. The agency identified six serious safety violations in December 2011 incident, which occurred during concrete placement and resulted in crews suffering sprains and strains.

The agency cited Cleveland Cement for failing to: properly design, construct and maintain concrete forming and shoring systems; avoid eccentric loading of shoring stringers; secure shoring stringers to shoring heads; adequately inspect forming and shoring prior to and during concrete placement; guard all exposed protruding reinforcing steel; and, ensure that workers use face protection while operating a pneumatic hose.

Cleveland Cement has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.