OSHA cites Colorado homebuilder, roofing company for not providing workers with proper fall protection equipment

Employer(s) name(s): Richmond American Homes of Colorado Inc.
d-7 Roofing LLC

Worksites: Residential housing projects in Littleton and Aurora, Colorado

Citations issued: Feb. 22, 2016

Investigation findings:  The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducted two separate inspections of Richmond American Homes of Colorado Inc. worksites. OSHA began its first inspections on Dec. 4, 2015, at the Littleton worksites, and cited both companies. The agency cited Richmond American Homes, the controlling employer, with a serious violation for failing to inspect the site, and cited d7 Roofing for two serious and one repeat violation. The repeat violation was failing to provide fall protection and the serious violations involved failing to provide eye protection for workers using pneumatic nail guns and ensuring ladders used for access to upper levels extended at least three feet above the landing level. Both of these violations were previously cited in a 2011 and 2012 inspection at previous worksites.

The second inspection at the Aurora worksite, begun Jan. 27, 2016, again cited both companies. OSHA cited Richmond again for a serious violation for failing to provide conduct frequent safety and health inspections at the worksite. The agency cited d-7 Roofing for two repeat violations for again failing to provide eye protection for workers using pneumatic nail guns and fall protection.

Proposed Penalties:  OSHA has fined Richmond American Homes $10,000 and d-7 Roofing $65,490.

Quote: “A fall can kill or seriously maim a worker. Builders and roofing companies must take responsibility for worker safety,” said David Nelson, OSHA’s Area Director in Englewood, Colorado. “Falls are leading cause of death in the construction industry. Every employer is responsible for protecting workers on site. Providing fall protection is nothing new, and any employer in construction work is well aware of OSHA’s fall protection requirements.”                                                                                                                                       

Link to the citations: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Richmond.pdf

Information: The companies have 15 business days from receipt of their citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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 Englewood Area Office at 303-843-4500. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.