OSHA finds Clifton company again exposes employees to life-threatening falls at a Bergen County work site, proposes $79K in fines

Employer name: Furia Roofing Co. Inc., 2 Monhegan St., Clifton, New Jersey

Inspection site: 699 Route 46 East, Teterboro, New Jersey         

Citations issued: On Aug. 1, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for one repeat and three serious violations.

Investigation findings: OSHA initiated an inspection on April 25, 2016, after a compliance officer observed Furia Roofing employees working on low slope roofs without fall protection and without effective fall protection, resulting in the repeat violations.

The serious violations relate to issues with fall protection equipment.

Quote: “Furia Roofing has repeatedly violated OSHA standards by failing to provide employees with fall protection and continuing to expose construction workers to serious injury or death. This failure to ensure worker safety indicates a problematic safety and health management system,” said Lisa Levy, director of OSHA’s Hasbrouck Heights Area Office. “OSHA will not tolerate this company continually endangering its workers. Furia should correct these hazards and implement an effective injury and illness prevention program for its workers.”

Proposed penalties: $79,240

The citation can be viewed at: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/FuriaRoofingCoInc_1142474.pdf

The employer 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 Hasbrouck Heights Area Office at 201-288-1700.

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.