Oct. 17, 2017

Contractor Cited for Scaffold Hazards at Philadelphia Work Site

MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ – A South Jersey construction company owner with a long history of workplace safety violations was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for exposing workers to serious scaffold hazards at a job site in Philadelphia. The owner, Vyacheslav Leshko faces $191,215 in proposed penalties.

OSHA inspectors responded to a complaint of unsafe working conditions at DH Construction LLC., and discovered employees performing masonry and bricklaying while working on a scaffold that was dangerously close to power lines.  The owner was cited for eight repeat and two serious violations for exposing workers to fall and electrical hazards, failing to train employees on scaffold hazards, failing to develop and implement an accident prevention program, and not providing employees with hard hats.

“Scaffolding hazards continue to be one of OSHA’s most frequently cited violations. These well-known scaffold hazards could have been avoided if basic safety practices were implemented,” said OSHA Area Director Theresa Downs, in Philadelphia. ”

Leshko was also cited in 2014 for similar violations at worksites for another company he owned, T&S Masonry.

Read more about the recent citations that OSHA issued to Vyacheslav.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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Media Contacts:

Leni Fortson, 215-861-5102, uddyback-fortson.lenore@dol.gov
Joanna Hawkins, 215-861-5101, hawkins.joanna@dol.gov

Release Number: 17-1355-PHI (OSHA 17-026)

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The Department’s Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the Department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).