Demolition Company Faces $1.2M Penalty Following Deadly Collapse

A Boston-based demolition company is facing nearly $1.2 million in fines after a worker was killed during a demolition. 

It was his first day on the job. 

OSHA investigators said JDC Demolition Company Inc. failed to adequately train its workers on the demolition plan and safety management system to help them recognize and avoid unsafe conditions. 

The incident happened in March of 2022.

OSHA investigators said the company failed to adequately train its workers on the demolition plan.

According to the report, the heavy equipment operator was doing demolition on the eighth floor of a garage when the partially demolished floor collapsed.

OSHA officials said their investigation revealed that on the morning of the collapse, a different heavy equipment operator working on an upper floor bay warned the foreman that he had concerns about the floor’s safety. 

They also said the company deviated from the demolition plan by using heavy equipment on partially demolished floor bays, which was prohibited in the plan. 

Citations 

OSHA cited JCD Demolition for eight egregious-willful violations, two serious violations, and one other than serious violation. 

The proposed fines total $1,191,292. 

“JDC Demolition Company Inc. knew the heavy equipment on the partially demolished floors were over the weight limits and still allowed a worker, unaware of the hazards, to do demolition work,” OSHA regional administrator Galen Blanton said.

OSHA also cited the demolition project’s general contractor for four serious violations. Those penalties could add up to more than $58,000.