The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed $38,000 in fines for Cleveland Cement Contractors Inc. following an investigation into the partial collapse of a downtown Cleveland casino’s parking garage. The agency identified six serious safety violations in the December 2011 incident, which occurred during concrete placement on the second level, 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 was given 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.