Companies facing fines for role in botched demolition of a Bakersfield power plant to appeal.
Subcontractors Alpha Explosives Inc., based in Lincoln, and DuBois, Wyo.-based Demtech Inc. contend in paperwork filed with Cal-OSHA that the agency was wrong to levy fines totaling $28,400 for a series of alleged violations.
Alpha was hired by the job’s prime contractor, Covina-based Cleveland Wrecking Co., to demolish the former Pacific Gas and Electric Co. power plant along Coffee Road just south of Rosedale Highway. Alpha, in turn, brought on Demtech to help with the demolition. No fines were levied against Cleveland or PG&E.
The early-morning Aug. 3 demolition went terribly wrong. Debris from the explosion flew across Coffee Road, hitting several bystanders, including Bakersfield resident Jerry Wood, who suffered serious injuries to both his legs.
Earlier this year, Cal-OSHA issued $14,000 in fines against Demtech for two “serious” and one “willful” violation connected to the event. The agency also levied $14,400 in penalties against Alpha for the same two “serious” violations as Demtech.
One of the violations classified as serious resulted from Cal-OSHA’s determination that Alpha and Demtech failed to properly evaluate the hazards posed by the dynamite and shape charges used to demolish the plant.
The other serious violation both subcontractors were cited for accuses them of failing to verify that all Cleveland Wrecking and Bakersfield Police Department personnel were outside the designated blast area or under sufficient protection.
Cal-OSHA further alleged that Demtech “knew” it was supposed to obtain an annual permit for placing and detonating the explosives but failed to do so.
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