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Report: Tropicana Subcontractor Ignored Problems

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey – As reported by the Press of Atlantic City: "As construction workers poured the top deck of the Tropicana Casino and Resort garage in October, the project's concrete subcontractor knew there was a problem that could cause the structure to fail but ignored it, federal investigators charged in a report released Thursday on the fatal garage collapse.

"Concrete floors weren't properly supported and steel bars that were supposed to connect the garage's walls and floors in an overlapping grid didn't meet, leaving the structure unable to bear its own weight, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, found.

"…Workers pointed out cracks in the columns a few weeks before the collapse, but nothing was done, OSHA revealed after its six-month probe ended Thursday.

"The report blamed structural problems for the collapse, including a lack of steel reinforcements in the concrete and inadequate shoring, or supports, for drying concrete floors. It also cited negligence by private inspectors who didn't identify basic problems. The agency cited four private companies for playing a role in the tragedy, and OSHA's area director, Gary Roskoski, who led the investigation, had harsh words for them.

"…OSHA issued nine violations, totaling $119,500 in fines. The companies involved have 15 working days to contest the fines or pay them.

"The violations included a $70,000 'willful violation' to concrete subcontractor Fabi Construction Inc. of Egg Harbor Township. That violation, the stiffest citation OSHA can dole out, alleges the company intentionally disregarded the law by failing to make sure the formwork for the concrete on the garage's top level was capable of supporting loads without failing.

"Project general contractor Keating Building Corp., of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., faces a $7,000 violation OSHA calls 'serious,' as do Mitchell Bar Placement Inc. of Sewell, and Site Blauvelt Engineers of Mount Laurel. Fabi also faces five additional serious violations for a total of $98,500 in fines…"

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