Coastal Building Systems of Amelia Inc. cited for repeat fall hazards by US Department of Labor's OSHA

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Coastal Building Systems of Amelia Inc., in Fernandina Beach, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for two repeat violations following a September 2013 inspection. OSHA found employees working on a residential roof without fall protection. Proposed penalties total $55,000.

"This employer has been previously cited for failing to provide fall and eye protection and continues to expose workers to serious injury or death," said Brian Sturtecky, OSHA's area director in Jacksonville. "Falls remain among the deadliest hazards in the construction industry. The safety and well-being of employees depends on effective fall protection on all job sites."

The repeat violations, carrying penalties of $55,000, are associated with inspections in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The company was cited during this inspection for failure to provide a fall protection system for employees working at heights greater than 6 feet and not providing eye protection for employees. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.

The other-than-serious violation was cited for not having first aid supplies or a kit to protect workers from infections and injuries. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

OSHA's fall prevention campaign provides employers and workers with lifesaving information and educational materials about working safely from ladders, scaffolds and roofs. It was developed in partnership with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and NIOSH's National Occupational Research Agenda program. More information on fall protection standards is available in English and Spanish at http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls. In 2012, there were 269 fall-related fatalities out of the 775 construction-related fatalities.

Coastal Building Systems is a full-service roofing and siding contractor. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Jacksonville Area Office at 904-232-2895.

Under the Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.