Builder facing stiff penalties in wake of another construction site accident

A Philadelphia Contractor could lose his license over a serious accident at a building site in North Philadelphia. 

A bricklayer fell from a roof on Montgomery Avenue in North Philadelphia after he touched unprotected electrical wires at an illegal construction site. The fall and burns from the electrocution left him in critical condition.

City Licenses and Inspections spokeswoman Rebecca Swanson says the contractor followed the rules getting an initial permit, then did just about everything else wrong.

“The property owner, a company by the name of 826 North Broad LLC did not have the proper permits. They did construction on this property illegally,” Swanson said. “They had a foundation permit which they started construction on without calling, which is required. They had a building permit, but did not pay for it.”

 Swanson says the contractor built the property without making required contact with Licenses and Inspections, apparently tried to mislead neighbors by posting some paperwork in the window of the property.

 “On the site, he taped up his foundation permit which was properly issued, but he never actually followed the rules about notifying us for the work,” Swanson said, “and he taped up his permit application for the building permit, which was improper.”

 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident. The contractor, McGee Plastering and Stucco has already been cited and fined repeatedly for safety violations.

 A company spokesman declined comment.