Contractor in NJ explosion faced $100K in fines
EWING, N.J. (AP) — The contractor working at the site of a massive explosion in New Jersey has been fined more than $100,000 by federal safety monitors for problems at two other work sites.
Records provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration show that Henkels & McCoy was fined $70,000 for safety violations at a work site in Bayonne and $42,000 for violations in Neptune.
The violations involved signaling and warning signs and protection of workers during excavations. The company is contesting the fines.
Tuesday's explosion in Ewing, outside Trenton, killed one person and injured seven workers. A preliminary investigation has attributed the explosion to a damaged gas line.
A spokesman for Henkels & McCoy says the company is deeply saddened at the loss of life and will cooperate fully with the investigation.
