OSHA cites A and W Roofing for exposing workers to fall hazards

Employer name: A & W Roofing LLC.8071 Parkman Mespo RoadMiddlefield, Ohio8071 Parkman Mespo RoadMiddlefield, Ohio

Investigation site: 12504 Saddlebrook Strongsville, Ohio

Date investigation initiated and what prompted inspection: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Cleveland Area Office has issued four willful safety violations to A and W Roofing LLC. OSHA opened an investigation of the contractor after observing workers exposed to fall hazards while conducting residential roofing work June 3 in Strongsville.

Investigation findings: OSHA issued four willful safety violations for exposing workers to fall hazards of more than 11 feet because the company failed to require the use of fall protection. The company was also cited for failing to provide protective helmets and eye protection to workers.

The company has been cited for failing to provide fall protection in May 2014 and March 2015.

Quote: "A and W Roofing continues to refuse to provide fall protection to its workers or cooperate with OSHA in away," said Howard Eberts, OSHA's Area Director in Cleveland. "A worker can be severely injured or killed in a fall in mere seconds. Falls remain the leading cause of death in the construction industry. It is unacceptable for a company to fail in its legal obligation to protect workers on the job."

Proposed Penalties: $47,000.

Link to citations: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/OSHA20151401fs.pdf

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint; or report amputations, eye loss, 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 Cleveland Area Office at 216-447-4194.