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Skanska Construction Site Riddled With Fire Safety Violations, DOB Says

By DNAinfo Staff on April 1, 2011 6:34pm  | Updated on April 2, 2011 9:25am

By Elizabeth Ladzinski

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer


HARLEM — The construction site where an iron worker plunged 15 feet on Tuesday, causing him head trauma and a severe leg injury, was riddled with fire safety violations including discarded cigarette and cigar butts and an obstructed standpipe, according to the Department of Buildings.

The DOB issued a total of 11 violations to Skanska USA Building Inc. after a 40-year-old employee fell at the future site of CUNY's Advanced Science Research Center at 85 St. Nicholas Terrace near 135th Street on Tuesday.

Inspectors who traveled to the site found an apparent disregard for fire safety rules, including smoking on the site with 10 cigar and cigarette butts scattered around in violation of city regulations, a failure to post "No Smoking" signs as required, and an inadequate number of fire extinguishers on every floor of the six-story site, according to the DOB website.

In an even more troubling red flag, inspectors found the the site's standpipe valves were obstructed by 60 feet of cable and netting on the top two floors, according to the DOB.

The obstructed standpipe poses a critical problem, as the pipes are often the only source of water at construction sites with which firefighters can extinguish the flames.

As evidenced by the Deutsche Bank fire in 2007 — in which two firefighters died after the standpipe in the building had been illegally cut off — a working standpipe could mean the difference between life and death. That fire was started by a discarded cigarette.

"The FDNY has written up this site several times. Any obstruction to a standpipe, or careless smoking on a construction site is a very serious violation," said Frank Dwyer, FDNY spokesman, "We will continue to work with DOB to keep this site, and others, safe for all."

Other violations on the DOB's website against Skanska indicate that the construction giant allowed one of its welders to work on site without a fire guard, or second staffer, on hand to monitor the site.

A full stop work order that was issued Tuesday for 85 St. Nicholas Terrace near 135th St. remains in effect.

"Our inspectors found serious safety issues that must be resolved before any work can resume at this site. Anyone who thinks these conditions do not pose a safety risk is simply wrong," said Tony Sclafani, spokesman for the Buildings Department.

Skanska USA Building said in a statement Thursday that the safety issues "were completely unrelated to the accident" and that they were working to resolve them as soon as possible. They did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday about the fire safety issues.

A hearing is scheduled for May 19, according to the Buildings Department website.