OSHA levies fines in July roof collapse

By Jeff Kass, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 10, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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OSHA has proposed $166,000 in fines against a concrete company after part of a roof collapsed last July during construction on the Landmark Tower luxury condominiums in Greenwood Village.

Denver-based Concrete Express Inc. responded in a statement Wednesday that it "vehemently denies" any "willful violation."

OSHA levied two "willful violations" - the strongest sanction - citing improper construction and improper shoring and bracing, for a concrete pour on the project between Orchard Road and East Belleview Avenue. Each willful violation carries a $70,000 fine, said Englewood Area Director John Healy. Six other "serious violations" came to $26,000.

"While we fully cooperated with OSHA during several months of investigation, no evidence of willful conduct was ever discovered, and OSHA gave no hint that it felt otherwise," Concrete Express said in its statement. "We now believe that OSHA has based its statements and citation on incomplete and misleading information."

OSHA says 13 workers were injured, but the project developer has said that all quickly returned to work.

Concrete Express has for now chosen to meet with OSHA to discuss the violations, Healy said, rather than fully contest them or pay the fines. That "informal conference" is set for Jan. 24.

OSHA has also fined the general contractor on the project, The Beck Group, $48,500.

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