OSHA finds three contractors failed to identify hazards in fatal incident at California casino

Just a month after the new Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City opened, a metal gate near the Cathedral City, California, casino’s loading dock collapsed, crushing a 41-year-old construction worker under its 3,000-pound weight.

A U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigation that followed the Dec. 7, 2020, incident found the project’s contractors—Penta Building Group, No Limit Steel and The Raymond Group—failed to conduct inspections to discover hazards, instruct employees on how to recognize workplace dangers, and install caution signs to warn workers about potential hazards. The three contractors face $64,169 in combined penalties.

“Required oversight and communication related to workplace safety and health could have prevented this tragic loss of life,” OSHA Area Director Derek Engard, based in San Diego, says. “This case is a painful reminder of why employers must make complying with workplace safety standards a priority.”

The Penta Building Group is a general contractor with offices and operations in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Palm Springs and Reno. The Raymond Group provides wall and ceiling construction services in Southern California. No Limit Steel is a contractor based in Los Angeles.

The companies have 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.