A serial OSHA offender, Wisconsin contractor continues to risk workers’ safety

EDGERTON, Wis. ‒ Some may argue the belief that the number “13” brings misfortune is just superstition, but there is no doubt that fall safety violations by a Wisconsin roofing contractor found in 13 inspections in 10 years are a tragedy waiting to happen. Falls are a leading cause of death in the construction industry, accounting for nearly 40 percent of fatalities in 2014.

On 13 occasions since 2005, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors have found Diaz Roofing LLC failed to protect its workers from fall hazards. On March 7, the agency issued two willful, two serious and one other-than-serious safety citations to the company and proposed $104,390 in penalties. 

In its most recent inspection, OSHA investigators observed eight employees on Sept. 17, 2015, at a residential roofing work site on Blaine Street without fall protection, such as guardrails, safety nets or personal fall prevention devices. The workers were at risk of falls of more than 10 feet.

“Diaz Roofing continues to ignore OSHA standards and is failing to protect its employees on the job,” said Ann Grevenkamp, OSHA’s area director in Madison. “OSHA will continue to monitor this employer for compliance, and do everything in its power to keep workers safely out of life-threatening working conditions.”

In addition, employees were using nail guns without eye protection, and OSHA found the company failed to maintain injury and illness logs.

Prior to this inspection, OSHA had inspected Diaz Roofing 12 times since 2005 for exposing workers to fall hazards at Wisconsin construction sites.

View current citations.

OSHA offers a Stop Falls online resource with detailed information in English and Spanish on fall protection standards. The page provides fact sheets, posters and videos that illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures. OSHA standards require that an effective form of fall protection be in use when workers perform construction activities 6 feet or more above the next lower level.

The agency’s ongoing Fall Prevention Campaign was developed in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and NIOSH’s National Occupational Research Agenda program. Begun in 2012, the campaign provides employers with lifesaving information and educational materials on how to prevent falls, provide the right equipment for workers and train employees to use gear properly.

Diaz Roofing has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings 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 Madison office at 608-441-5388.

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.