Fall Protection Violations Target Atlanta-Based Roofing Company
Fall protection, one of OSHA’s Focus Four, was at the center of OSHA’s investigation of Peach State Roofing. They were cited by for a willful violation. Peach State Roofing was cited because workers were exposed to fall hazards at a work site in Spring, Texas. Peach State Roofing is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
According to the company’s official website, Peach State Roofing specializes in commercial roofing. The company has 15 fully staffed offices supporting their customer base nationwide. Established in 1990, Peach State Roofing is considered one of the largest roofing applicators of single ply and metal roof systems.
The willful violation involving fall protection was neglecting to provide personal protective equipment such as a harness to protect workers from falls of 6 feet or more above lower levels. Willful violations are considered an intentional disregard for the law’s requirements, or indifference to worker safety and health.
Falls are one of the leading causes of death in the construction industry according to recent statistics released by OSHA. In 2011, 251 construction workers died from falls, thus the intense interest in fall protection. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has initiated an educational program aimed at informing construction professionals about fall prevention strategies. The information can be accessed at http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls.
Peach State Roofing has 15 business days to dispute OSHA’s findings. Fall protection proposed penalties total $70,000. David Doucet, director of Houston’s North area office emphasized employers have a responsibility to ensure workers exposed to fall hazards are provided with fall protection equipment appropriate for the job at all times when a fall hazard is present.
Companies with employees that are constantly in harms way due to possible fall hazards, should invest in quality training that provide safety tenets approved by OSHA. Employees and contractors would benefit from the OSHA-Approved 30 Hour Construction Training Course Online, that teaches safety fundamentals and advanced safety management.