OSHA Says Bolts Caused Cincinnati Casino Collapse

The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration issued citations totaling $108,220 to six contractors on a casino that partially collapsed earlier this year in Cincinnati. Investigators determined workers had installed fewer bolts at beam-and-column connections than needed to keep the steel structure stable. It collapsed during a concrete pour, injuring 13 people (ENR 2/13 p. 15). "We feel that they were all directly involved in the erection and should have recognized the lack of proper safety standards," says Scott Allen, OSHA spokesman. Construction manager Messer Construction Co., in charge of the $400-million project, received four "serious" citations, totaling $25,200.