Georgia roofing contractor cited for repeat and serious violations following US Department of Labor OSHA inspections

ATLANTA — Pablo Lopez of Norcross has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for three repeat and one serious safety violation following inspections at two work sites in Milton and Smyrna where employees were performing roofing work without fall protection. The inspections began in February and April 2014 as part of the agency's Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction. Proposed penalties total $83,930.

"It is unacceptable that Lopez continues to violate OSHA standards by exposing workers to serious fall hazards," said Christi Griffin, director of OSHA's Atlanta-West Area Office. "Allowing repeat violations to occur only demonstrates the employer's lack of commitment to safety and the lives of his workers."

The repeat violations were cited for exposing workers to fall hazards between 14 and 24 feet when employees installed shingles on an unprotected, steep-sloped roof; for failure to ensure the extension ladder that workers used to access the roof extended 3 feet above the landing area; and for allowing employees to carry shingles from a material lift without wearing fall protection. These repeat violations total $80,850. 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 employer was cited for these same violations in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The serious citation, with a $3,080 penalty, was issued for using a material lift as a ladder to access the roof, which exposed workers to fall hazards of up to 28 feet. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

OSHA has created a fall prevention 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.

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 Atlanta-West Area Office at 678-903-7301.

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.