Rogers Roofing faces proposed penalties of $44,660 by US Labor Department's OSHA for exposing workers to fall hazards

FRANKFORT, Ill. — Rogers Roofing Inc. has been issued citations for two safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for exposing workers to fall hazards at a residential site on Feb. 28. Proposed penalties for the company, which has been cited by OSHA six times in the past six years for similar violations, total $44,660.

"Falls remain the leading cause of death in the construction industry. Failing to protect construction workers on roofs from falls is inexcusable," said Kathy Webb, OSHA's area director in Calumet City. "Employers, such as Rogers Roofing, are repeatedly placing workers' safety and lives at risk by failing to abide by existing safety standards.

OSHA found that roofers were working without required means of fall protection, such as a personal fall arrest system, creating a potentially hazardous work environment.

Rogers Roofing, based in Hammond, Ind., was issued one willful violation for failing to protect employees from falls, as well as a serious violation for allowing workers to carry any objects or loads while accessing the roof that could cause them to lose balance and fall. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirement, or plain indifference to employee safety and health, while a serious violation is one that could cause death or serious physical harm and can result from hazards that an employer knew or should know about.

Last year, nearly 300 workers were fatally injured in construction-related falls nationwide. OSHA will hold a national safety stand-down from June 2 to 6 to raise awareness among employers and workers about the hazards of falls. During the stand-down, employers and workers are asked to pause during their workday to talk about fall prevention in construction, and discuss topics like ladder safety, scaffolding safety and roofing work safety. OSHA has also launched an official national safety stand-down website with information on how to conduct a successful stand-down. Afterwards, employers will be able to provide feedback and receive a certificate of participation.

The stand-down is part of OSHA's ongoing Fall Prevention Campaign, which was started in 2012 and was developed in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and NIOSH's National Occupational Research Agenda program. The campaign provides employers with lifesaving information and educational materials on how to plan ahead to prevent falls, provide the right equipment for their workers and train all employees in the proper use of that equipment.

OSHA has created a Stop Falls Web page at http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls with detailed information in English and Spanish on fall protection standards. The page offers fact sheets, posters and videos that vividly illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures. OSHA standards require that an effective form of fall protection be in use when workers perform construction activities 6 feet or more above the next lower level.

Secretary Perez on Stand-Down to Prevent Falls

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 Calumet City Office at 708-891-3800.

Under the Occupational Safety and 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.

Rogers Roofing has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.