Construction firm cited by OSHA after worker killed in building collapse
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The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued two willful citations and a proposed penalty of $101,400 against a South Dakota construction company related to a building collapse that killed one of its employees.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Hultgren Construction L.L.C. was renovating a historic building in downtown Sioux Falls in December when the building collapsed, killing one employee and injuring a resident, according to local media reports.
Employees were tasked with removing two load-bearing walls but were not instructed how to install a temporary shoring system to transfer building loads, according to the OSHA citation issued Friday. When the final segment of a load-bearing wall was removed, the building collapsed, the citation said.
The company also was cited for exposing employees to struck-by and crushing hazards and not performing an engineering survey prior to beginning demolition.
The company has 15 days from the date of the citation to request an informal meeting with the OSHA area director or to contest the citations.
Representatives from Hultgren Construction were not immediately available to comment.
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