The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited construction company Big D Builders, Inc. for a deadly collapse of an airport hangar in Idaho. The federal safety investigators found that the company showed a blatant disregard for federal safety standards, resulting in the deaths of three workers and injuries to eight others. OSHA proposed nearly $200,000 in penalties for Big D Builders, citing one willful violation and three serious violations of safety regulations. The company, based in Meridian, Idaho, declined to comment on the report or its findings due to a pending lawsuit filed by the families of two of the deceased construction workers.
According to federal investigators, Big D Builders had begun constructing the hangar without proper bracing or tensioned wires, and warning signs indicating the structure was unstable were ignored. The construction company’s irresponsible methods left the hangar vulnerable, ultimately leading to its collapse under high winds on January 31. Families of the deceased workers, Mario Sontay and Mariano Coc, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Big D Builders, Steel Building Systems, Inland Crane, and Speck Steel in federal court, seeking unspecified damages. One of the owners of Big D Builders, Craig Durrant, also lost his life in the collapse.
Sontay, 32, and Coc, 24, had been working on the hangar project for six days before the tragic incident. They were transferred to the site from another construction site on the premise that the building shell needed to be completed by the end of January. OSHA had previously cited Big D Builders for violations related to fall risks, indicating a history of safety concerns. In addition to the penalties imposed on Big D Builders, Inland Crane Inc. was also cited for continuing to erect the hangar despite visible structural issues. The company faces over $10,000 in fines for their involvement in the incident.
In response to the lawsuit, Inland Crane stated that they and their employees were not at fault for the collapse, suggesting that the responsibility lies solely with Big D Builders. The incident at the Boise airport hangar serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to safety regulations and standards in the construction industry. The lives lost and injuries sustained as a result of the collapse highlight the devastating impact of neglecting safety protocols. OSHA’s actions in citing the companies involved in the project serve as a strong message to the construction industry about the consequences of ignoring safety regulations. The ongoing lawsuit filed by the families of the deceased workers underscores the long-lasting impact of the tragedy and the pursuit of justice for those affected.
