N.J. contractors, DOL settle over ‘willful’ fall hazards
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The U.S. Department of Labor on Tuesday announced a settlement with two New Jersey contractors that resolves a citation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration over fall hazards.
The settlement affirms a citation for four “willful” violations over the companies’ failure to ensure stairways at construction sites had handrails and stair rails, creating a fall hazard for employees.
Primetime Construction LLC and subsidiary Primetime Contractors LLC, both of Paterson, agreed to pay $215,000 in penalties as part of the settlement, and they also agreed to undertake several “significant safety measures,” including conducting prejob hazard assessments for each job, ensuring field employees receive at least 10 hours of OSHA training, and retaining a safety consultant to conduct work site audits, the DOL said.
The companies had initially contested the citation and penalties before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The DOL had amended the citations to add Primetime Construction to the case later during the litigation, according to the agency.
