Foul-smelling and discoloring Chinese-made drywall, apparently imported after Hurricane Katrina, has been the subject of more than 50 complaints in Florida, say state officials. “We don’t know whether this is strictly a material issue or if climate also is involved,” says Vincent M. Daliessio, industrial hygiene project manager for EMSL Analytical, Inc., Westmont, N.J., a materials consultant that is examining the problem after getting calls from building inspectors and builders. “We don’t know why it is appearing just in Florida. It could be just the tip of the iceberg or the distribution model for the vendor.” Drywall woes have plagued
Six subcontractors have been sued by the developer of a six-story parking garage in Jacksonville, Fla., that collapsed in December 2007, killing one worker and injuring 23 others. Atlanta-based developer Berkman Plaza 2 LLC named Southern Pan Services, Co., Davie, Fla.; Universal Engineering Sciences Inc., Orlando, Fla.; Infinity Reinforcing Inc., Palm Coast, Fla.; P.T.E. Strand Co. Inc., Hialeah, Fla.; A.A. Pittman & Son Concrete Co., Mandarin, Fla., and Harsco Corp. d/b/a Patent Construction Systems, Paramus, N.J., as defendants in a lawsuit seeking damages “well in excess of” $36 million. Choate Construction Co., Atlanta, is general contractor and is named in
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued eight citations to Baton Rouge-based Deep South Crane & Rigging Co. for the July 18 tipover of a 2,500-ton-capacity crane that killed four workers at a Houston refinery. Investigators say the machine’s boom was elevated to an unsafe angle, breaking the boom stops and causing it to collapse backward. Six violations are “serious,” and one is a repeat offense for allegedly not training the operator. A spokeswoman for Deep South says the company plans to contest the fines, which total $71,500. Photo: AP/Wideworld
More charges flew on Jan. 5 and 6 against construction officials at the center of two of Manhattan’s highest-profile jobsite accidents in the last 18 months. On Jan. 5, a master rigger was indicted for his alleged actions involving a 200-ft-high tower crane that destabilized and collapsed at a Midtown high-rise site last March, killing six workers and a civilian. William Rapetti, 48, was indicted on multiple charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault and reckless endangerment. Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau also said Rapetti and his firm Rapetti Rigging Services Inc., Massapequa Park, N.Y., failed to file tax returns
Seven construction workers remained hospitalized nearly two weeks after a cable-stayed pedestrian bridge being constructed at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens collapsed on Dec. 19. Crews were pouring 125 cu yd of concrete for the 600-ft-long, 40-ft-tall pedestrian bridge when a 400-ft deck section came down, killing one and injuring 18. Approximately 100 linear ft of concrete had been poured when the incident occurred, according to general contractor Hardin Construction Co., Atlanta. The federal Occupation Safety and Health Administration is investigating. The structure was being supported by temporary shoring. The bridge was designed by Jova/Daniels/ Busby, Atlanta. Halvorson and Partners of
Three New York City construction officials indicted and arraigned on Dec. 22 in connection with a fatal fire at a vacant Ground Zero high-rise being cleaned of asbestos and demolished posted bail and will reappear in court in Manhattan on Jan. 7. Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau charged the officials, including the site safety manager for project contractor Bovis Lend Lease LLC, with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment. The charges relate to their alleged roles in the August 2007 fire at the Deutsche Bank building that killed two city firefighters. Photo: AP/Wideworld Bovis manager Melofchik (center) charged with
Work continues on the $803-million I-10 Twin Spans bridges in New Orleans despite a second accident by the lead contractor on the project in two months. A Boh Bros. Construction, New Orleans crane operator remains in the hospital in serious condition after falling 30 ft. from the bridge into Lake Pontchartrain Dec. 23 when his crane became unbalanced, eventually toppling into the water as well. "Our employee was operating a mobile hydraulic crane to move a steel roadway curb from into position on the north end of the project," says Robert Boh, company president. "For reasons as yet not fully
A New York City prosecutor charged the site safety manager for Bovis Lend Lease LLC with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in connection with a fire that damaged a Deutsche Bank high-rise in lower Manhattan 16 months ago and killed two firefighters. The building had been undergoing asbestos abatement and demolition. Photo: AP/Wideworld Jeffrey Melofchik, Bovis site safety manager at Manhattan's Deutsche Bank demolition project, arrives for his arraignment Dec. 22 The indictments were announced Dec. 22 by Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau against Jeffrey Milofchik, who had been Bovis site safety manager at the 40-story Deutsche Bank, which was
One construction worker was killed and 17 were injured during a suspension bridge collapse at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens Dec. 19. Crews were working on a new 600-ft-long 40-ft-tall pedestrian bridge when portions of the structure collapsed at approximately 9 am. Concrete pours were under way at the time. Atlanta Fire Capt. Gregory Shinkle said that scaffolding being used during the pour collapsed, according to the Associated Press. Photo: AP/Wideworld An unidentified worker sits on a wall at the Atlanta Botanical Garden shortly after a pedestrian bridge under construction collapsed Dec. 19. Hardin Construction of Atlanta is the general contractor
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has given the green light for Boh Bros. Construction to resume suspended activities on the $803-million I-10 Twin Spans bridges in New Orleans. The DOTD has approved use of a modified procedure to prevent girders from rolling, which occurred on Oct. 30 when a girder rolled off a bent during a deck-form flipping operation, sending 10 workers into the water, critically injuring two and killing Eric Troy Blackmon, 44, a foreman and 11-year Boh employee. “We have not determined why the girder rolled off the bridge, but we are confident that these new
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