Concrete firm fined in Henderson accident

Monday, Oct. 29, 2001 | 10:42 a.m.

Precision Concrete of North Las Vegas has been fined $4,000 for safety violations that led to an accident last month at the Henderson municipal parking garage and the hospitalization of two workers.

A monthlong investigation by a regional branch of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration determined that construction forms built to hold and shape a 55-foot concrete entryway beam had not been built to withstand the load of 182,000 pounds of wet concrete.

Tom Chehowski, regional director of OSHA, said Precision Concrete has 15 working days to appeal the citations.

The 4 1/2 story, $7.2 million garage, at the corner of Lead Street and Basic Road, is about three months behind schedule.

OSHA mailed notice of the fines Oct. 24. The agency issued a second citation because plans for the forms were not located at the jobsite. That citation carried no fine.

Chad Stewart, president of Precision Concrete, said this morning he had not decided whether to appeal.

OSHA has fined Precision Concrete $1,285 for four other safety violations since construction began last fall.