U.S. Department of Labor | August 2, 2016

Two OSHA inspectors find North Jersey company exposes workers
to more than two dozen serious crane, chemical hazards
RCS Construction puts employees at risk of amputations, struck-by and other hazards

Employer name: RCS Construction LLC

Inspection site: 265 Pennsylvania Ave., Hillside, New Jersey

Citations issued: On July 29, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to RCS Construction for 26 serious and three other-than-serious health and safety violations.

Inspection findings: OSHA received a signed formal complaint on Feb. 11, 2016, and initiated a health inspection. The agency opened a safety inspection on April 7, 2016, based on a referral from a compliance officer regarding hazards associated with crane operation and the lack of machine guarding. The safety inspection also fell under OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Amputations.

The serious violations included:

• Hazards related to cranes.
• Workers exposed to hazardous chemicals and struck-by and electrical hazards.
• Obstructed exit routes and missing exit signs.
• Improper storage of propane fuel cylinders.
• Failure to implement a hearing conservation program.
• Lack of machine guarding and forklift maintenance and training.
• Lack of a hazard communication program.

RCS Construction failed to inform employees on how to use respirators safely, identify fire extinguisher locations and use relocatable power taps properly which all resulted in other-than-serious violations.

Quote: "Regular inspections of cranes are a critical component of safe operation. Besides the hazards found related to the crane, OSHA cited many other violations at this worksite," said Patricia Jones, director of OSHA's Avenel Area Office. "In addition to the crane hazards, OSHA found many other violations at this worksite. RCS Construction must correct all of these hazards promptly to protect its workers from needless injuries or worse."

Proposed penalties: $71,400

The citations can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/RCS_1124618.pdf
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/RCS_1137267.pdf

The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint; or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Avenel Area Office at 732-750-3270.

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 ensure 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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Media Contact:

Joanna Hawkins, 215-861-5101, hawkins.joanna@dol.gov
Leni Fortson, 215-861-5102, uddyback-fortson.lenore@dol.gov

Release Number: 16-1559-NEW (osha 16-097)

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