Contractors fined for safety violations

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) in the US has fined three contractors for safety violations related to an accident involving a tower crane in New York City in March 2008.

OSHA officials determined that a sling used to lift a collar section of the tower crane failed. Seven people were killed in the E. 51^st Street accident that occurred as the tower crane was being jumped to increase its height so that it could work at a higher level.

The contractors fined for violations included Rapetti Rigging, Reliance Construction Group and Joy Contractors Inc., according to news reports. The three companies were fined a total of US$313,000 for numerous safety violations, including inspection of the slings which failed.