The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has
cited J&M Metro General Contracting Corp for six safety and health violations, comprised of
one willful and five serious violations. They come in response to an inspection of a facility in
Brooklyn, NY in April of 2015. This inspection was initiated in response to a fatal employee fall
at the location. The citations are for issues relating to fall hazards, including a lack of fall
protection, missing stairway guardrails, a defective extension ladder, unprotected floor holes, and
construction debris in stairways and work areas. These violations carry proposed penalties of
$84,600.
“Mr. Sanchez’s death could have been prevented by J&M Metro General Contracting,” said Kay
Gee, OSHA’s area director for Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. “This employer knew fall
protection was required, but did not supply lifesaving equipment that would have prevented this
“Too many construction workers die needlessly in falls each year. This includes nine such
employees in New York City this year,” said Robert Kulick, OSHA’s regional administrator in
New York. “We remind employers that these are people, not numbers. Employers must use
appropriate and effective required fall protection measures at all times.”
If you are in an industry with potential fall hazards and you are unsure if your current
occupational safety and health policies and procedures are sufficient, or if you know they need
updating and you would like assistance to ensure workplace safety, please contact us. If you have
anything to add about this inspection, please leave a comment.
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