Roofers made to work above 3 stories without guard rails, fall protection

Employer name: Lorz Construction, Fargo, North Dakota

Citations issued: Oct. 22, 2015

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Bismarck Area Office cited the Fargo roofing contractor for three willful safety violations. OSHA initiated its investigation after a worker suffered serious injuries in a May 1, 2015 incident. The forklift platform he was working from at a West Fargo construction site tipped over, injuring his back and legs.

OSHA inspectors found employees were working from scaffolds and exposed to falls of up to three stories. Lorz Construction failed to provide guard rails or fall protection equipment. The company also failed to ensure that forklifts supporting scaffold platforms were not moved while the platform was occupied, or that scaffolds were constructed correctly. Lorz Construction was cited for similar hazards in 2014.

Quote: "Falls remain the leading cause of death and injury on construction sites. It is inexcusable for employers to not provide fall protection," said Eric Brooks, OSHA's area director in Bismarck. "Despite being previously cited for exposing workers to these hazards, Lorz Construction has yet to commit to its legal responsibility to protect workers on the job."

Proposed Penalties: $105,000

View Citations: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/OSHA20152127fs.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 Bismarck Office at 701-250-4521.