Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter During construction activities, a crane used to lift concrete barriers overturned. The accident ruptured the crane’s hydraulic hoses spilling all its fluid onto the ground. The contractor was required to pay for clean-up costs arising from the spill.

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A steel erection contractor accidently caused a release of diesel fuel at a construction site when a crane operator dropped a steel beam. The beam landed on a small tanker truck that was brought onto the site to refuel other construction equipment. The cost of the emergency clean-up was in excess of […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A subcontractor working for a street and road contractor performed abrasive sandblasting on a bridge located near a residential area. Lead paint chips and dust from the sandblasting became airborne and migrated onto residential properties, requiring clean-up. The residents filed property damage claims against the street and road contractor and the subcontractor for […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A roofing contractor applied polyurethane foam along with layers of elastomeric protective coatings to a roof of a commercial building. After completion of the building, workers in the building began to suffer respiratory problems caused by irritants in the coatings. Suits for bodily injury and business interruption were filed against the general […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A plumbing contractor installing a lawn sprinkler system did not install adequate vacuum breakers on the discharge side of the water supply valves. When pressure in a drinking water system fed by the same water main fell below atmospheric pressure, a vacuum was created which caused back-siphonage of stagnant water from the […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A pile driving contractor punctured an unknown underground storage tank which resulted in the release of waste oil. The waste oil impacted adjacent soils and forced the job to stop until the materials could be delineated, excavated and properly disposed.

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A child who lived in an apartment building constructed in the 1970s was diagnosed with lead poisoning. The renovation of the building by a painting contractor allegedly caused unsafe conditions for the child. The parents of the child filed a bodily injury claim against the painting contractor. As part of the investigation […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A mechanical contractor improperly installed fittings during routine maintenance of a hydraulically driven conveyor system. A subsequent leak was not discovered until the next routine maintenance cycle. The leaking hydraulic fluid migrated into a floor drain located beneath the equipment which discharged directly into an adjacent drainage ditch. Property owners adjacent to […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A masonry contractor, performing a renovation project at a historic building, was sued by employees of a nearby office building. The claimants asserted that they were exposed to silica dust coming from the job site. The claimants reported damages for bodily injury asserting that required measures were not used to prevent or […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter An industrial cleaning contractor was hired to clean a former petroleum storage tank previously used for backup power purposes. Plastic sheeting and an associated dike were placed around the tank to prevent the runoff of contaminated rinse water. The sheeting and dike were not properly placed around the tank allowing a substantial […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A mechanical contractor installed an HVAC system in an assisted living facility for seniors. The system was constructed improperly, which caused mold growth in a portion of the residences. The facility was forced to relocate several patients during the repair of the system, and the renovation of the moldy building materials. A […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter During the course of performing site preparation work for a new building the excavation contractor spread contaminated soil throughout the site. The contractor was held partially liable for Spreading the contaminated soil and exacerbating the problem.