Region 1 News Release: 10-1559-BOS/BOS 2010-460
Nov. 16, 2010
Contact: Ted Fitzgerald
Phone: 617-565-2074
E-mail: fitzgerald.edmund@dol.gov

Two New Hampshire contractors cited by US Labor Department's
OSHA after worker suffers fall injury at Nashua worksite

CONCORD, N.H. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited North Ridge Contracting Inc. and CMGC Building Corp. for safety violations after a North Ridge worker was injured in a fall at 100 Innovative Way in Nashua, N.H.

North Ridge Contracting of Deerfield, N.H., faces a total of $44,000 in proposed fines, following the July 27 incident in which a worker tripped and fell 14 feet during the dismantling of a stairway at the Benchmark Electronics building.

OSHA's inspection found that North Ridge workers lacked fall protection while dismantling the stairway, exposing them to falls of up to 40 feet. OSHA issued North Ridge one willful citation with a proposed fine of $35,000 for the lack of fall protection. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

"This incident is a prime example of the consequences that occur when an employer fails to provide workers with effective and required fall protection," said Rosemarie Ohar, OSHA's area director for New Hampshire. "Proper safeguards would have prevented this fall and the injury that resulted."

North Ridge was also issued three serious citations with $9,000 in proposed fines for failing to provide fall protection training to workers, a tripping hazard from unfilled metal pan stair treads and failing to provide a competent person to inspect the work area in order to identify and correct such hazards. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

OSHA also issued two serious citations with $7,200 in proposed fines to the project's general contractor, CMGC Building Corp. of Bedford, N.H., for lack of fall protection and for not filling in the stairway treads.

Detailed information on fall protection hazards and safeguards is available online at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/index.html.

Each employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, meet with OSHA or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Concord Area Office, telephone 603-225-1629. To report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audiotape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.