The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Monday that it cited two Idaho companies following an airport hangar collapse in January that killed three workers and injured at least eight others.
The agency cited Meridian-based Big D Builders Inc. for one “willful” violation and three “serious” violations, and proposed $198,586 in penalties, after the incident near the Boise Airport.
OSHA also cited Boise-based Inland Crane Inc. for one “serious” violation in connection with the incident and proposed $10,163 in penalties for exposing workers to collapse hazards.
OSHA investigators said Big D erected the airport hangar without using sufficient bracing or tensioned guy wires. The agency also said the building contractor “ignored numerous indications that the structure was unstable.”
Big D also failed to train workers on properly constructing steel spans and allowed cranes and other equipment to operate in mud and standing water, which exposed workers to the risk of overturned machines.
Big D and Inland Crane have 15 business days to contest the citations and proposed penalties.