Contractors cited for Scaffold Collapse

Contractors cited for Scaffold Collapse

Two New Haven County contractors face a total of $27,100 in fines from the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration following a Sept. 8 scaffold collapse in Fairfield.

Employees of New Haven Scaffolding and Petra Construction were working on a scaffold and on the roof of the Pequot Library when the scaffold tipped over, causing one worker to fall 17 feet to the ground. Petra Construction, based in North Haven, was the general contractor while New Haven Scaffolding was the scaffolding subcontractor.

"This case highlights why it is vital for worker safety that scaffolds are erected properly, employees are trained adequately and fall protection is ensured," said Robert Kowalski, OSHA's area director in Bridgeport. "It's fortunate no one was killed in this incident, but safety must never be just a matter of luck."  -- Read More: OSHA cites two contractors