Montville Contractor Blamed For Newark Airport Hangar Collapse: OSHA

A Montville-based contractor has been cited for allegedly contributing to a collapsed hangar that injured four workers at Newark Liberty International Airport in September.

The United Airlines hangar on Brewster Road was under demolition when it collapsed in September, authorities previously stated.

Nine workers were present when the building collapsed, and four were taken to University Hospital in Newark with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities stated.

• See related article: Collapsed Newark Airport Hangar Injures Four

On Feb. 24, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Parsippany office issued a citation to Catanzaro & Sons Enterprise after conducting an inspection following the hangar collapse.

According to the OSHA citation, inspectors allegedly determined that Catanzaro & Sons Enterprise – doing business as CATCO Demolition Services - deviated from an approved demolition plan and made unapproved cuts to several I-beams.

This deviation allegedly compromised the structure of the hangar and initiated the collapse, OSHA inspectors charged in the citation.

OSHA fined the company $49,000 for the alleged violations, according to the complaint.

See the OSHA citation here.

Photo courtesy of the Port Authority PBA via Twitter