Endicott Firm Faces Fines After Binghamton Construction Injury

A federal agency has proposed thousands of dollars in penalties against a Broome County construction company after a worker was critically hurt in Binghamton.

Keith Totten of Port Crane was run over by a bulldozer last spring at a street reconstruction project. He sustained leg, hip and pelvis injuries in the incident, which happened shortly after 2 p.m. April 7.

Totten was working on Glenwood Avenue in the First Ward when he was struck as the piece of equipment backed up. He has been recuperating after spending 70 days in the hospital.

A spokesperson for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said an investigation was started after the agency was notified "of an injury to an employee of Chicago Construction Co." The company has its offices on Union Center Maine Highway, north of Endicott.

OSHA's website indicates the agency initially planned to assess a total of nearly $9,400 in penalties for two serious violations. The potential fine was reduced to about $4,700.

The investigation determined the company failed to provide proper training to the person who was operating the bulldozer that ran over Totten.

OSHA also concluded the reverse signaling alarm on the dozer could not be heard above the surrounding noise level. The review also determined a person was not posted to signal to the operator that it was safe to back up.

A call placed to Chicago Construction Company on Wednesday was not returned.

VIDEO: The scene on Clinton Street after Keith Totten was run over by a John Deere Dozer on April 7, 2023.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.