Washington contractor fined for using crane to lift workers after elevator broke down

A Seattle, Washington construction company faces more than $150,000 in fines for endangering workers.

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries cited and fined Lane Construction Corporation in July for workers walking the crane into and out of a 95-foot vertical well on a canal water quality project site. Seattle Public Utilities.

Workers told inspectors that the construction lift that was supposed to take them up the shaft broke down in January. Instead of repairing the elevator, Lane Construction management decided to give employees access to the tunnel using a large crane at the job site, according to L&I.

Inspectors also determined that Lane Construction did not follow relevant safety requirements, including the minimum distance of 20 feet from power lines while elevating workers.

Lane Construction was cited with two serious and two gross willful violations totaling $155,300 in the latter case. A willful violation is when L&I finds evidence that a company knew or should have known about a hazard or rule. A serious violation is when there is a substantial likelihood that worker death or serious physical injury could result from a dangerous condition.

The company is appealing the fines.

Penalties from claims go into the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, helping injured workers and the families of those who die on the job.

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Washington contractors