Take the High Road
The Case for Requiring Maryland’s Taxpayer-Funded Construction Contractors to Demonstrate Their Adherence to Safety Standards
By Mike Tanglis
Executive Summary
46 percent – 73 vendors – have received OSHA violations in the past 10 years.
These vendors have received 486 total OSHA violations for which they paid $370,297 in total penalties.
These vendors have been awarded 66 percent – $146 million – of the more than $219 million awarded to vendors awarded at least one contract worth $100,000.
35 percent – 56 vendors – have received serious OSHA violations, indicating OSHA found a hazard that “could cause an accident or illness that would most likely result in death or serious physical harm,” in the past 10 years.
These vendors have received 215 total serious OSHA violations for which they paid $253,867 in total penalties.
These vendors have been awarded 53 percent – $115 million – of the more than $219 million awarded to vendors awarded at least one contract worth $100,000.
Three vendors had a fatality occur on a worksite they operated in the past 10 years. Two of the fatalities occurred during work on a Maryland government contract. In each case, the employer was cited for violations.
- Brayman Construction – On August 22, 2007, while working on $83 million project for the West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways, a Brayman Constructionemployee was “crushed under [a] 22,084-pound panel.” The 47-year-old carpenter left behind a spouse and three children. Brayman was cited for two serious violations and one other-than- serious violation, for which it paid a $38,800 penalty. Brayman has been awarded one DGS contract since the fatality, on Nov. 14, 2012, worth $421,750.
- American Paving Corp. – On May 4, 2009, an employee “flagging” and “directing traffic” on Route 413 Marion, Md., at a worksite run by the American Paving Corp. died after being struck by a car. The work was being done as part of a $1.9 million contract with the State Highway Administration. American Paving was cited for one serious violation, for which it paid a $3,825 penalty. American Paving has been awarded one DGS contract since the fatality, on March 21, 2012, worth $193,142.
- Corman Construction – On Jan. 16, 2015, Corman Construction was “reconstructing the roadway” in Jarrettsville, Md., as part of $6.2 million contract with the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA). An excavator knocked a large concrete barrier onto two employees working below, injuring one and killing another. The deceased victim, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, was just 30 years old. He left behind his parents, three sisters, two brothers, and a young son. Corman was cited for one serious violation and one other-than- serious violation, for which it paid a $5,540 penalty. Corman has been awarded one DGS contract in the past five years, on May 2, 2012, worth $ 1,126,102.