Danger seen in rail tunnel prior to death

Nearly a dozen potentially lifethreatening safety violations were found at an MTA tunneling project— a month before a worker was killed there, authorities alleged Friday.

Federal inspectors discovered the violations during an October inspection of the East Side Access project, which will allow Long Island Rail Road trains to use Grand Central Terminal, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration said.

The U.S. Labor Department agency on Friday announced 11 alleged violations and $48,000 in fines against MTA’S tunneling contractor, Dragados Usa/judlau, a joint venture.

The inspection followed an accident Oct. 15, when a runaway rail car used in the tunneling operation injured two workers.

Violations included failure to secure the rail car, no communications system to alert workers of the runaway car, unsecured compressed gas cylinders and ungrounded electrical cords. Employees also were not trained to recognize and avoid tunneling hazards, Oshaalleged.

“Underground construction is essential but dangerous work,” OSHA area director Kay Gee said. “It’s also essential that effective worker safeguards are in place and in use at all times. That was not the case here.”

The MTA issued a statement saying it has been “working with the contractor to address the issues raised by OSHA and more broadly to improve workers’ overall safety on the East Side Access project. ”