OSHA cites Halmar for two serious violations in fatal Maybrook retaining wall colllapse

Published: 9:30 AM - 06/10/14

MAYBROOK - The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Halmar International for two serious workplace safety violations in the Dec. 2 collapse of a retaining wall that killed two workers and injured a third.

The collapse happened Dec. 2 at a three-acre construction site owned by Halmar off Homestead Avenue in Maybrook. A crew was pouring concrete for a mockup of an aqueduct project the company was working on for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

One citation said the formwork for the retaining wall failed to support the loads applied to it during the concrete pour due to the absence of three diagonal braces. The other citation was for not having drawings of the formwork present at the construction site.

One worker, Timothy Lang, 53, of Saugerties, was pronounced dead at the scene. A second worker, Scott Winkler, 50, of Monroe, was taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla and died two weeks later. Rafael Zakota, 37, of Glendale in Queens, was injured but survived.

OSHA has proposed that Halmar pay a $7,000 fine for each of the violations. OSHA spokesman Ted Fitzgerald said the fine is based on the classification of the violations and does not take into account whether any deaths or injuries occurred.

Halmar principal Chris Larson confirmed Monday that the company received the preliminary findings from OSHA about a week ago, but has not yet had a chance to meet with OSHA or determined how to respond.

Halmar has until June 20 to decide whether to accept the violations, show they have been abated and pay the fine, or contest the findings before an independent OSHA review commission.

Michael Randall

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OSHA cites Halmar for two serious violations in fatal Maybrook retaining wall colllapse