$1.1M OSHA Fine In Fatal Government Center Garage Collapse

BOSTON, MA — A Brockton demolition company is facing a $1.2 million fine from the federal government for its role in a fatal March construction incident at the Government Center garage.

On March 26, a part of the ninth floor of the garage collapsed during demolition work, killing Peter Monsini, 51. Monsini was operating an excavator when the floor collapsed beneath him, causing him and the vehicle to fall 80 feet.

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation found that JDC Demolition Company failed to train workers, and did not have a safety management plan in place at the time of the incident.

Monsini, an Easton resident, was operating an excavator after a more experienced worker expressed concern about the safety of the structure. When Monsini took over, he did not get a safety briefing, OSHA said.

"OSHA also found that JDC Demolition deviated from the demolition plan by imposing unsafe loads, in the form of heavy equipment, on the partially demolished seventh, eighth and ninth floors. The demolition plan prohibited the placement of heavy equipment on partially demolished floor bays," the agency said in a news release.

JDC Demolition Company has 15 business days to either pay the $1.2 million fine or contest it. OSHA also levied a proposed $58,000 fine against the project's general contractor, John Moriarty and Associates Inc., for training and safety errors.

A portion of the Government Center garage is being demolished to make way for one part of the $1.5 billion Bullfinch Crossing development. A 12-story life sciences tower will take the place of a portion of the garage on top of the Haymarket Red Line stop. Work resumed at the site in July.