OSHA Fines Houston Contractors Following Fatal Roof Collapse at High School

OSHA Fines Houston Contractors Following Fatal Roof Collapse at High School

ICI Construction Inc. and Emanuel Enterprises face combined proposed penalties of $315,643.

  • By Robert Yaniz Jr.
  • Dec 18, 2023

OSHA announced Houston-based ICI Construction Inc. and Emanuel Enterprises LLC, willfully disregarded mandatory safety protocols, resulting in a roof collapse at Friendswood High School in Houston. The June 2023 incident caused the death of one worker and left four injured.

According to a release dated Dec. 14, OSHA's investigation revealed that both contractors failed to conduct the required engineering survey before commencing demolition work. Due to this inaction, a load-bearing wall critical to the structure’s support was ignored. Reportedly, the company had workers continue even with the demolition after hazards were acknowledged.

“Ignoring federal standards and the company’s own policies prevented them from identifying a load-bearing wall that was shown on construction drawings,” OSHA Area Director Mark Briggs in Houston said in a statement. “This willful disregard for worker safety was a tragic mistake that cost a worker his life.”

In response, Emanuel Enterprises LLC, the project’s demolition contractor, faces an OSHA fine of $175,010. This includes citations for three serious safety violations regarding inadequate protection from silica exposure and improper respirators use. General contractor ICI Construction Inc. has been penalized $140,633, a total of $315,643 in proposed penalties.

Following the issuance of citations and penalties, the companies have a 15-business-day window to either comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

About the Author

Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.

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