In the wake of the tunnel collapse at Washington Dulles International Airport, US, on November 1 that killed one worker (T&TI Dec 2001), Virginia investigators have cited contractor Kiewit Construction Co and consultant Parsons Management Consultants for ‘alleged wilful and serious safety violations’.
Fines of $77,000 against Kiewit and $32,000 against Parsons Management Consultants, both for one case of wilful and one of serious safety violation, have been proposed by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.
The allegations of safety violations hinge around the state inspector’s belief that a safety engineer inspecting the NATM drive for Kiewit had not, in fact, been on site for the entire month leading up to the collapse. During this time three fallouts had occurred, the first on 24 October and others on 25 and 31 October.
The investigators also allege that Kiewit deviated from the contract specifications leading to the tunnel “lacking support and stabilisation”.
Parsons has been cited for being aware of the NATM engineer’s absence from site and approving a reduction in the number of support girder spiling bolts.
Kiewit spokesman Jerry Pfeffer said: “We are extremely disappointed that any citations were issued, and we strongly disagree with the Department’s allegations. We complied with all applicable safety and health requirements. We intend to further address these allegations with the Department and, if necessary, contest them.”
Both Kiewit and Parsons were expected to make a decision as to whether to contest the findings and subsequent proposed fines as T&TI went to press.
