OSHA settles casino construction collapse cases

CINCINNATI - 9 News has learned that federal safety inspectors have closed their case into the Jan. 27 construction accident at Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati.

Thirteen employees of Jostin Concrete Construction were injured when steel beams gave way as crews were pouring concrete for the casino's second level floor.

Bill Wilkerson, Area Director for OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) said informal negotiations have trimmed the number of violations against four firms and reduced $108,220 in fines by about half that amount.

Six firms were originally charged and fined:  

- Messer Construction - ($25,200)
- J&B Steel Erectors - ($19,600)
- Pendleton Construction Group, LLC - ($16,800)
- Triversity Construction Company, LLC - ($16,800
- D.A.G. Construction Co., Inc. - ($15,120)
- Jostin Concrete Construction -- ($14,700)

The firms had until Monday to initiate discussions or file a formal appeal, which would have sent the matter through a months-long legal process.

Wilkerson said Triversity and D.A.G. were eliminated as individual firms, since they and Jostin are part of the Pendleton Construction Group.  Jostin was cited as part of Pendleton and on its own.

The number of violations was also reduced from four to two, according to Wilkerson:

- Failure to coordinate inspections
- Failure to support the structural steel

Messer officials acknowledged the settlement, but declined further comment.

The $400 million casino is scheduled to open in the spring of 2013.