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OSHA Violations |
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BAY HARBOUR ELECTRIC’S RECENT OSHA VIOLATIONS– THIS
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR IS CITED AND FINED FOR VIOLATIONS OF ELECTRICAL SAFETY
RULES
OSHA issued a two-count serious violation notice and proposed a $1,925
fine against Bay Harbour Electric for non-compliance with job safety laws at
a St. Clairsville, Ohio construction job site. Even though Bay Harbour
Electric is an electrical contractor, OSHA found that Bay Harbour Electric
failed to protect electrical cords and cables from damage, thus exposing
workers to potential fire and electrical hazards. Bay Harbour Electric
employees also were not even provided with stairways to enter two material
storage trailers, meaning the employees had to jump up and down to get in
and out of the trailers every time they needed equipment or supplies.
(Inspection #018183301)
In September 2000, OSHA cited and fined Bay Harbour Electric again, for
the serious violation of exposing its workers to a fall hazard at the Best
Buy store construction site in Erie, Pennsylvania. The proposed fine was
$675. Not only were Bay Harbour Electric employees working within a few feet
of an unshielded hole in the floor, others were using an aerial lift, which
could have tipped over if one of its wheels fell into the floor hole.
(Inspection #122174683)
These are some of the 32 total OSHA citations issued against Bay Harbour
Electric over the last several years. Bay Harbour Electric’s past violations
have ranged from a sloppy work site at the Austinburg Convalescent Center in
Ohio, to multiple violations and fines for exposing their employ |
| SERIOUS
|
WILLFUL
|
REPEATED
|
OTHER |
FINE
|
DATE |
| |
|
|
1 |
|
01/16/02 |
| |
|
|
1 |
$ 675 |
09/01/00 |
| |
50% of Violations are Serious Violations |
|
2 |
|
03/16/99 |
| 2 |
|
|
$1,925 |
11/04/98 |
| 1 |
|
|
$ 525 |
02/13/96 |
| 3 |
|
|
$ 800 |
11/09/94 |
| |
|
1 |
|
05/12/92 |
| |
|
2 |
|
04/30/92 |
| 2 |
|
|
$ 300 |
11/28/90 |
| 3 |
|
1 |
2 |
$1,020 |
09/06/90 |
| 1 |
|
|
|
$ 300 |
03/21/89 |
| 3 |
|
|
3 |
$1,590 |
06/01/88 |
| 1 |
|
|
1 |
$ 810 |
04/26/88 |
| |
|
|
2 |
|
02/05/87 |
|
Total Violations:
32
Total Serious Violations: 16
Total Initial Fines:
$7,945 |
|
change orders |
| BAY HARBOUR
ELECTRIC’S $22,272 IN CHANGE ORDERS ON AN OHIO SCHOOL JOB
Change orders are one of the biggest problems in the construction industry
and are at the core of many liens and court suits filed over construction
jobs gone bad. Sometimes, change orders are filed by unscrupulous
contractors who "low ball" a bid in order to get a contract and then try to
make up their losses by adding on change orders. The Critic notes with
interest that Bay Harbour Electric received change orders for $5,155,
$7,112, $7,230, $1,517 and $1,258 for work on school jobs for the Beachwood,
Ohio city schools. In sum, Bay Harbour Electric’s modest $345,000 bid ended
up costing the School District over $367,000.
The Critic has no evidence that Bay Harbour Electric deliberately
submitted a low ball bid for this work. The Critic has reviewed, however,
inspections of Bay Harbour Electric’s work at that location, which contain
written allegations that Bay Harbour Electric used improper mounting for
heavy gym lighting fixtures and that Bay Harbour Electric did not follow the
jobs specs that required swivel mountings for those fixtures. |
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LIENS |
| Bay Harbour Electric filed a
mechanic’s lien against one of their clients, the large retailer Discovery
Square, in January 2001 even though Bay Harbour Electric’s dispute was
actually with another contractor. Bay Harbour Electric claimed they
weren’t paid $5,315.90 by general contractor, North Coast Building Company,
for work at a Discovery Square in Erie, Pennsylvania during late 2000.
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TAX PROBLEMS |
| PROBLEMS FOR BAY
HARBOUR ELECTRIC IN NEW YORK STATE THE NEW YORK TAX MAN COMES FOR BAY
HARBOUR ELECTRIC WORKERS
The New York State tax investigators have decided to investigate Bay
Harbour Electric workers, regarding Bay Harbour Electric’s jobs in the
Empire State. This is nothing but headaches for the workers. Bay Harbour
Electric clients could also face repercussions, depending on the outcome of
the investigation.
This investigation came after complaints to the New York officials that
Bay Harbour Electric was not paying the legally required overtime rate and
not deducting New York state and local taxes while working in New York
State.
The New York Department of Labor ordered Bay Harbour Electric to pay over
$30,000 in back wages to its employees who were underpaid on two Bay Harbour
Electric jobs in New York, including the Cuba-Rushford Central School. |
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ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIM |
| ADMINISTRATIVE
CLAIM AGAINST BAY HARBOUR ELECTRIC In January
1999, R.D. Construction Company filed an administrative claim with the Ohio
Department of Administrative Services, alleging non-payment by Bay Harbour
Electric for R.D. Construction’s work on the Lake Erie Correctional
Institute, Phase II. |
   
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