OSHA charges Idaho contractor with Boise hangar collapse

Federal investigators have found that a Meridian contractor involved in a hangar collapse at Boise Airport in January that killed three workers had an “outrageous disregard for safety standards.”

Inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are charging Big D Builders Inc. with multiple violations in connection with the deadly incident and are proposing fines of nearly $200,000.

“Big D Builders’ blatant disregard for federal safety regulations cost three workers their lives and left at least eight others with painful injuries,” said OSHA Director David Kearns.

“The company’s irresponsible construction methods left the aircraft hangar structure extremely fragile,” Kearns said.

Inspectors found that Big D had constructed the hangar without temporary guy wires or additional reinforcement.

One of the charges states that bent I-beams were observed daily, columns were tilted, and multiple steel cables snapped. In addition, loose connecting bolts were found.

“The tragic loss and pain suffered by so many is compounded by the fact that Big D Builders could have prevented all of this,” Kearns said.

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