Major OSHA safety violations uncovered at Monroe Commons construction site
Federal inspectors say workers were exposed to serious safety hazards, including a nearly 75-foot-high unstable embankment.
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A major construction project in the Town of Monroe, near the border with Kiryas Joel, is under fire after federal inspectors uncovered serious safety hazards.
Six construction companies based in New York and New Jersey are now facing more than $648,000 in proposed fines following an OSHA investigation at Monroe Commons on Nininger Road.
At the center of the investigation is a massive excavation site with a nearly 75-foot-high embankment that federal inspectors say wasn’t properly stabilized, leaving workers vulnerable to potentially deadly cave-ins and falling debris.
The development, also known as Magna Square, sits on 18 acres along the border of Kiryas Joel and includes plans for a four-story, 408,000-square-foot building with retail space, offices and a 39-room hotel.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA launched its investigation after receiving allegations of dangerous excavation conditions at the site.
Inspectors ultimately issued 28 citations — including 23 serious violations and five classified as willful — against the project’s general contractor and five subcontractors.
OSHA says workers were also exposed to falling rocks and soil, potential chemical hazards and inadequate fall protection. Inspectors also found that required daily safety inspections weren’t being conducted and that portions of the excavation, ranging from 21 to 75 feet deep, weren’t designed by a registered professional engineer.
Among the companies facing the largest proposed penalties are Parkstone Inc. and Obstacle Systems Inc., operating as Drip Drop Waterproofing Inc., at $198,615; The Paving Masters LLC at $188,684; and general contractor Advanced Plan and Build LLC at $175,444.
Three other subcontractors — Century Max Industries Corp., DelValle Contractor and Prime Structure Inc. — were also cited.
The companies have 15 business days after receiving the citations to comply, request a meeting with OSHA or challenge the findings.
News 12 has reached out to companies cited for comment and is awaiting responses.
