Eight times since 2011, federal safety inspectors find Central Florida contractor exposing workers to dangerous, potentially deadly falls

Employer name: Collis Roofing Inc.

Inspection site: 202 Wellington Woods Ave.
Deland, Florida 32720          

Citations issued: Inspectors with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration saw Collis Roofing’s workers unprotected from falls as they installed shingles at a residence in a Wellington Woods subdivision. OSHA cited the contractor with two repeated violations and one serious violation. The agency initiated the inspection as part of its Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction.

Investigation findings: OSHA issued the repeated citations for Collis’ failure to protect workers with a fall protection system when working 6 feet or more above a lower level, and allowing employees to operate powered nail guns without eye protection. Federal standards require the use of a guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest systems when employees are working at heights greater than 6 feet.

The agency cited the company with a serious violation for not extending a portable ladder 3 feet above the landing area.

Background: OSHA has cited the employer previously seven times since 2011 for willful, repeated and serious violations for a lack of fall and eye protection.

Proposed penalties: $142,865

Quote: “Although Collis Roofing advertises that it cares about the safety of customer’s families and employees, the company continues to jeopardize the lives of their workers by not ensuring they are protected from serious injury or death when working at dangerous heights,” said Brian Sturtecky, OSHA’s area director in Jacksonville. “This employer is fully aware of OSHA’s standards and yet – seven times in five years – we have found Collis putting their workers at risk in violation of federal safety laws.”

The citations can be viewed at: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Collis_Roofing_Inc._10_17_2016.pdf

Based in Longwood, 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 Jacksonville Area Office at 904-232-2895.