Fourmen OSHA Violations Delay Peekskill Landing Bid Vote

After learning that has OSHA violations, Acting City Manager has held his recommendation to hire that company for the $2.6 million project until the city completes its evaluation of the three lowest bidders. The City Council on awarding the bid to Fourmen during last night’s Common Council meeting.

City Manager Brian Havranek noted that the "main (OSHA violation) is from 2008, regarding a deep excavation that was in violation of OSHA requirements." 

Fourmen was cited along with three other contractors when an OSHA inspector drove by an excavation site at a library in Briarcliff Manor and noted that employees were working in an apparently unprotected excavation, according to OSHA. The inspector opened an inspection on the spot and cited Fourmen for: 

• One alleged willful violation for failing to provide cave-in protection [$35,000].
• Two alleged serious violations for failing to have a competent person inspect the jobsite for excavation hazards [$2,500] and failing to remove encumbrances such as rebar from the excavation's entrance [$750].

Fourmen owed a total of $38,250 in proposed penalties, according to OSHA.

Director of Planning Anthony Ruggiero has asked for more information from OSHA, he told the council last night. Ruggiero also said that the city is still in the process of evaluating the subcontractors and the other two lowest bidders.

The City Council will discuss the Peekskill Landing bid again once City Staff and the city engineer consultant have completed their research, most likely next week.