Tennessee Contractor Fined in May Crane Collapse

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined a Nashville, Tenn., contractor more than $60,000, citing the company with willful and serious safety violations.

According to OSHA, Mountain States Contractors was replacing the Route 109 bridge over the Cumberland River in Gallatin on May 21 when the crane’s main boom cable broke and the crane collapsed.

OSHA’s area director in Nashville, William Cochran, said daily crane inspections indicated the cable needed replacing and there was replacement cable available on site, but the crane was not serviced.

Mountain States Contractors has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

A message left at the company’s office on Tuesday afternoon was not immediately returned.