Butler County-based J&B Steel Erectors was one of six area companies cited by the Ohio Occupational Safety and Health Administration Monday for “serious” violations related to the January collapse at the construction site of the Horseshoe Casino in downtown Cincinnati.

The companies were cited a collective $108,220 by the state after a portion of the casino collapsed on Jan. 27 as workers were pouring concrete on the casino deck and banquet levels of the $400 million project, which is one of two casinos being built in the state by Rock Ohio Caesars LLC.

The casino is one of the largest projects under construction in the region at this time.

The other five companies fined were Messer Construction Co., the project’s construction manager; Pendleton Construction Group, D.A.G. Construction Co., Jostin Construction Inc. and Triversity Construction Company. The companies have 15 days from Monday to pay the fines or appeal or request a meeting with the area OSHA director, according to the citations.

“OSHA issued citations to all six companies because we felt that all of the companies were directly involved in the pouring of the foundation,” said OSHA spokesman Scott Allen. “Each one of the companies bore a responsibility to ensure the OSHA standards were in compliance.”

Thirteen workers were hurt when the Cincinnati casino floor collapsed while under construction at the former Broadway Commons site at Reading Road and Broadway and Court streets. Work was initially suspended at the site while the investigation took place. At the time, officials said a beam buckled as workers poured concrete at the site. Some of the injuries were serious, but the men who were injured have recovered.

Work at the site has since resumed at the casino, which is expected to open in the spring of 2013.

OSHA began its investigation the day of the collapse and sent by certified mail the citations to all six companies. Allen said it’s important that companies follow OSHA standards “to protect the workers, and here it was lacking and OSHA determined that.”

According to the citations, all six companies did not:

• ensure metal decking and working surface strength and structural integrity were maintained before and after concrete work had begun;

• initiate or maintain an inspection program at the job site to ensure strength and structural integrity was maintained and supported; and

• ensure protection of employees working on or within the structure, exposing them to the hazard potential associated with crushing injuries from a structural collapse and fall potentials of 25 feet.

All companies except for Jostin Construction also did not have an adequate number of bolts, welds and other equivalent supports as part of the structural steel assembly during the pouring of concrete which created an overload condition of the work area.

“Serious” violations are issued if death or serious physical harm can result from a hazard an employer knew or should have known exists.

J&B Steel Erectors, 9430 Sutton Place, Hamilton, was also cited for an “other-than-serious” violation. The company was fined $19,600, the second-most fine amount of the six companies, for its part in the collapse during the construction of the Horseshoe Casino.

J&B Steel President and owner Toya Estes deferred comment to a statement that she said is set to be issued today by her company’s attorney.

Messer Construction was fined $25,200, but company president and CEO Tom Keckeis said he “respectfully disagrees” with the findings, which each cited company has 15 days to respond.

“We are cooperating fully with OSHA as we have throughout the investigation. That support will continue as we stay in close contact and compliance with OSHA through our partnership agreement,” Keckeis said.

Messer Construction Co. spokeswoman Tiffany Witham would not state which parts of the company’s citations it disagrees with, but plans to meet with the Cincinnati area OSHA director.

“This incident is an anomaly in the scope of Messer’s long-standing, successful performance, which is a direct result of our disciplined approach to safety,” said Keckeis.