Big D Builders has resumed construction on an airport hangar in Boise, Idaho, that collapsed and killed three people nearly a year ago, a spokesperson for the contractor told Construction Dive.
Meridian, Idaho-based Big D Builders is continuing the construction of the hangar, owned by Jackson Jet, at Boise Airport.
On Jan. 31, 2024, the hangar crumpled as it was being constructed, killing Craig Durrant, 59; Mario Sontay Tzi, 32; and Mariano Coc Och, 24. Durrant was a co-founder of Big D Builders and brother of Dennis Durrant, the company’s owner. Workers had allegedly raised concerns about the structure the day prior to the collapse.
OSHA’s findings, released in July, alleged the contractor did not follow regulations when erecting the hangar, leaving many critical connecting bolts loose and using straps to straighten spans as opposed to installing additional bracing or temporary guy lines per steel erection standards.
The agency also claims the contractor failed to train workers properly on how to construct steel spans and allowed cranes and other heavy equipment to operate in mud and standing water, which exposed workers to risk of the equipment overturning.
As a result, OSHA cited Big D Builders with one willful violation and three serious violations, totaling $198,586 in initial penalties. As of time of publication, the citations remain contested, which means they may be reduced from the initial amount.
OSHA also cited Boise-based Inland Crane Inc., the crane contractor on the project, with one serious safety violation, proposing an initial fine of $10,163. Inland Crane also contested the citations, but said OSHA’s findings indicated Inland Crane employees and equipment were not responsible for the incident in a statement to Construction Dive at the time of the citations.
Just a few weeks before OSHA’s findings, families of the deceased workers filed a lawsuit, seeking damages from the construction team, alleging the builders “recklessly” hurried construction.
