OSHA cites Hugo's Roofing Contractors for exposing workers to fall hazards

Employer name: Hugo's Roofing Contractors Inc. 26889 Muenz Road Wright City, Missouri

Investigation site: 214 Arbor Meadows Court Fairview Heights, Illinois

Date investigation initiated and what prompted inspection: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Fairview Heights Area Office issued safety citations to Hugo's Roofing Contractors Inc., July 7. OSHA opened an investigation of the contractor after observing workers exposed to fall hazards at a residential jobsite in Fairview Heights, Feb. 7.

Investigation findings: OSHA issued two willful, one repeated and five serious violations for exposing workers to falls and other hazards.

Two willful violations cite the company for exposing workers to fall hazards of about 11 feet because the company failed to require the use of fall protection. The company has been cited for this violation at five locations in Missouri since 2010. The company was also cited for failing to train workers about fall hazards and prevention. The company was cited for this violation in 2010 and 2011.

In addition, a repeat violation was issued for failing to provide eye protection while using pneumatic nail guns. The company was cited for this violation in 2010 and 2012 at locations in Missouri.

Five serious violations involve:

• Failing to protect roof workers by using fall protection anchors that were not capable of supporting 5,000 pounds
• Not maintaining job site inspections
• Failing to provide portable fire extinguishers to employees transporting gasoline cans.
• Incorrect use of vertical lifelines for roofers
• Failing to inspect fall protection systems for damage and defective components

Quote: "Hugo's Roofing Contractors continues to endanger the safety of its workers by refusing to ensure that adequate fall protection is used on the job sites. A worker can be severely injured or killed in a fall in mere seconds. Failing to protect them from harm is unacceptable," said Aaron Priddy, OSHA's Area Director in Fairview Heights. "Roofing contractors have a responsibility to train and protect their workers on job sites."Proposed Penalties: $43,780

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 Fairview Heights Area Office at 618-632-8612.