NEWS

Greystone contractor fined for safety violations

William Westhoven
@WWesthoven

A contractor has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health administration for exposing employees to "imminent danger fall hazards" while performing tree-trimming activities from an aerial lift at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Parsippany.

Northstar Contracting Group was cited for one "willful violation" and one "serious violation" observed by an OSHA investigator observing the work in progress on Oct. 7. The citations expose the company to possible fines of up to $53,900.

"It is no secret that falls are the leading cause of work-related fatalities, and the risk of falling is magnified for those working from aerial lifts during tree-trimming operations," said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA's Parsippany Area office. "This company's failure to protect its workers from falls and other safety hazards is inexcusable."

Both violations are documented in a letter to Northstar's office in East Hanover, dated Feb. 5 and referring to tree-trimming work being done on the old Greystone campus off Central Avenue. Northstar was awarded a $34.5 million contract last year to demolish and remediate the decaying buildings there, including the massive Kirkbride building near Central Park of Morris County. The tree work, however, was part of a deforestation and reforestation project related to closures of landfills on the campus, taking place near the north gate off Old Dover Road.

A new Greystone facility was built nearby and opened in 2008.

The "Serious" violation alleges the "Project manager was exposed to head injuries as he was not wearing a protective helmet while on the ground."

The "Willful" violation alleges that a tree-trimmer in the basket of an aerial lift was not wearing a body belt and lanyard secured to the boom or basket, exposing the worker to "being catapulted out of the basket of the JLG telescopic boom list as no method of fall arrest or restraint was being worn by the worker."

The "Serious" violation carries a fine of $4,900. The "Willful" violation fine was listed as $49,000. The report also states that both violations were "corrected during inspection" and no injuries occurred during the work in question.

"Safety is our No. 1 priority in a project of this size, and we expect safety regulations to be followed," said Joseph Perone, director of communications for the state Department of the Treasury, which is overseeing the Greystone project. "We are glad that no workers were injured."

OSHA imposes heavy fines on employers exposing workers to what they term "struck-by hazards" such as falling tree limbs or other falling or flying objects, masonry construction walls and passing vehicles. Approximately 75 percent of struck-by fatalities involve heavy equipment such as trucks or cranes, OSHA states on its website.

Northstar has 15 business days from the Feb. 5 letter date to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission.

Representatives of the company in its East Hanover office and corporate headquarters in New York did not return calls for comment.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.