Roofing contractor again fails federal safety inspection, putting workers at risk of dangerous, deadly falls at Florida work site; faces $108,500 in penalties

Employer name: Coastal Building Systems of Amelia Inc.

Inspection site: 32157 Juniper Parke Drive, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034

Citations issued: Citations were issued to the employer on June 3.

Investigation findings: Inspectors with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration observed employees of Coastal Building Systems, Inc. not properly protected from falls as they did roofing work at a residence in the Flora Parke subdivision. OSHA cited the company with one willful and one repeated safety violation. This inspection fell under OSHA’s Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction.           

The willful citation was issued to the employer for not ensuring workers were properly protected from falls up to 8 feet. OSHA requires the use of a guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest systems when workers are working at heights of 6 feet or more above a lower level.  

The repeat violation was cited for allowing workers to use powered nail guns without eye protection. OSHA cited the employer for this same violation in June 2012 at a work site in Saint Johns.

After its latest violations, OSHA is considering placement of Coastal Building Systems in its Severe Violators Enforcement Program. The program focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer’s facilities if it has reasonable grounds to believe there are similar violations.

Proposed penalties: $108,500

Background: The agency has inspected the company 12 times since 2010 and eight of those inspections resulted in willful, repeat and serious citations for a lack of fall protection and other hazards.  

Quote: “Despite previous citations and penalties, Coast Building Systems continues to willfully and repeatedly ignore worker safety,” said Brian Sturtecky, OSHA’s area director in Jacksonville. “The company’s management corrects hazards while inspectors are at the job site, but allows hazards that put workers at risk of serious injury or death to return once inspectors leave.”

The citations can be viewed at: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/legacy-files/newsroom/newsreleases/CoastalBuildingSystemsOfAmelia_0.pdf

Based in Amelia Island, Coastal Building Systems is a roofing and siding contractor. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a 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 Jacksonville Area Office at 904-232-2895.