Cal/OSHA investigating after partial building collapse in Oakland

OAKLAND (KTVU) -- Largo Concrete Inc. is now the main focus of an investigation by Cal/OSHA after 13 people were hurt when a building under construction partially collapsed Friday morning.

The workers were pouring concrete at the building on Broadway near Hawthorne Avenue at about 9:30 a.m. when the floor fell out from under them.

Shortly after building collapsed, Cal/OSHA investigators arrived to conduct a probe into what happened.

"They are going to be looking at what happened," said Paola Laverde, a Cal/OSHA spokeswoman. "They will interview the employer, they will be interviewing the workers (and) they will be looking at the safety records of the company."

Largo concrete is the concrete subcontractor on the project at 3093 Broadway, which is the former Bay City Chevy dealership and is being transformed into a mix of residential apartments and retail space.

Workers were apparently pouring concrete when the accident hapened.

"It's the first time I've heard of flooring (that) has gone out from under them," Laverde said.

Records show that over the past 10 years, largo has paid more than $34,000 for various violations.

• In 2007 a Largo worker was paralyzed after falling 10 feet onto a concrete slab. The company was fined $5,400 in that case.
• In 2008, the firm was hit with a $19,000 fine after a worker cut his foot with a chainsaw.
• And in 2015, Cal/OSHA fined Largo more han $6,000 for having rebar that was installed in an unsafe manner.
• And Largo has had four accident investigations over the past five years with three citations issued for minor violations.

"If Cal/OSHA determines there were any violatiosn they will cite the company," Laverde said.

Safety regulators will also examine the general contractor, Johnstone Moyer of San Carlos. Records show that company has had a handful of relatively minor violations.

"The goal of Cal/OSHA is to ensure workers are safe at the workplace and can go home safe to their families," Laverde said.

The investigations typcally take about 3-4 months to complete. and Largo would be required to correct any violations.

Largo refused a KTVU request to comment.

By KTVU reporter Rob Roth.