Philadelphia contractor exposes workers to fall hazards again, this time at a South Jersey construction worksite

Employer name: Quick Carpentry Inc.
4501 Bleigh Avenue, Apt. A
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Inspection site: 258 Gordon Road, Lot 8
Robbinsville, New Jersey

Citations issued: On Sept. 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the company citations for two repeat and seven serious violations.

Investigation findings: OSHA’s inspection began on May 24, 2016, under the agency’s local emphasis program focused on falls in construction.

Inspectors issued the repeat violations after finding that the company exposed employees to fall hazards and failed to provide training in recognition of fall hazards again. The agency cited the company for similar violations in February 2016.

The serious violations involved use of damaged ladders, workers exposed to struck-by hazards and the employer’s failure to have a competent person conduct frequent and regular inspections of the site, ensure employees wore hard hats and provide employees with training to recognize fall hazards.

Quote: “Quick Carpentry exposed its employees to falls up to 12 feet while installing roof trusses on residential properties. Falls are the leading cause of serious injury and death in the construction industry so proper workplace safeguards are critical. This company’s failure to provide basic fall protection and total disregard for safety on all of these issues jeopardizes its employees needlessly, and will not be tolerated” said Paula Dixon-Roderick, director of OSHA’s Marlton Area Office.

Proposed penalties: $105,631

The citations can be viewed at: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/QuickCarpentryInc_1151602.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 Marlton Area Office at 856-596-5200.

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.