Beer on the 520 Bridge job will have consequences, after bridge contractor Kiewit/General/Manson confirmed that workers consumed alcohol at the project's Bellevue offices.
Two vice presidents and three managers with Kiewit and with Manson will be suspended without pay, after the company's investigation, according to a statement released Thursday by Kiewit.
Kiewit/General/Manson is a partnership of three construction firms that joined together to be the contractor for the 520 Floating Bridge Project and several other contracts related to . KGM's contract for the floating bridge project is $586.6 million.
The investigation started after a hidden-camera investigation by KOMO TV allegedly found several workers with Kiewit/General/Manson, also known as KGM, drinking on the job.
Tom Janssen, spokesman for Kiewit, said that .
Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary and that there was no evidence that Washington State Department of Transportation workers were among those involved.
Kiewit confirmed that employees drank alcohol at the office, and there was a lack of understanding of company policy, which does not allow alcohol consumption at the workplace or in vehicles.
We confirmed that drinking did occur sporadically in our offices, but was done at the end of employees’ work days, primarily on Fridays during social occasions. We found no evidence of workers consuming alcohol while engaged in work in the field or doing anything besides end-of-day office administrative tasks.
The statement said that the safety of the project was not compromised.
The following steps will be taken, according to Kiewit:
- Two senior project managers will be suspended without pay.
- The senior vice president with management responsibility for these projects in Washington will also be suspended without pay.
- Our partner, Manson Construction Co., will also suspend a jobsite manager and a vice president without pay.
- Others identified as violating our company policy regarding the possession or consumption of alcohol will receive letters of counseling.
- We are holding training to ensure employees understand the responsible and appropriate use of alcohol and its potential dangers.
- Our senior leaders, including our CEO, reemphasized our policy and have directed managers to thoroughly review all of our projects and offices to ensure that our policy is being followed. We will continue to communicate to employees the importance of adhering to company policy and acting in a way that matches our company’s culture and commitment to responsible behavior.
Read more coverage on the State Route 520 Bridge construction on Bellevue Patch.
