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Five Contractors Cited For Safety Violations In FIU Bridge Collapse

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WASHINGTON (CBSMiami) - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited five contractors for safety violations after one employee died and five others were seriously injured when a pedestrian bridge at the Florida International University campus in collapsed.

OSHA's investigation determined that the companies failed to protect workers when indications of a potential bridge collapse were evident. Violations included exposing employees to crushing and fall hazards; and allowing multiple employees to connect to an improperly installed lifeline.

The companies cited were Figg Bridge Engineers Inc., a civil and structural engineering company; Network Engineering Services Inc. (doing business as Bolton Perez & Assoc.), a construction engineering and inspection firm; Structural Technologies LLC (doing business as Structural Technologies/VSL), specializing in post-tensioning in bridges and buildings; Munilla Construction Management LLC, a bridge and building construction company; and The Structural Group of South Florida Inc., a contractor specializing in concrete formwork.

"Collectively, these employers failed to take appropriate action and provide the necessary protections to their employees while they were working on the bridge on the day it collapsed," said OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt A. Petermeyer.

The five companies collectively received seven violations, totaling $86,658 in proposed penalties.

The companies now have 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Read the citations for Figg Bridge Engineers Inc., Network Engineering Services Inc., Structural Technologies LLC, Munilla Construction Management LLC, and The Structural Group of South Florida Inc.

Munilla Construction Management LLC issued a statement on the citation.

"MCM views OSHA's action as a positive first step toward understanding the root cause of this tragic accident. While MCM is still reviewing the OSHA fall protection citation, it is noteworthy that OSHA has not claimed that the cited conditions had anything to do with the FIU bridge span's failure."

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