Repeat OSHA Violator Receives Multiple Citations
Repeat OSHA Violator Hackensack Roofing, Co has been issued multiple citations by the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for one serious and three repeat safety violations. These violations were processed, following October 18th inspections of both the company’s East Rutherford and Wellington facilities, in compliance with the agency’s Local Emphasis Program, which focuses on reducing the number of fall-related injuries. For the violations observed and, in light of the company’s previous history with safety violations, (Hackensack Roofing was previously cited for similar violations in 2014) OSHA proposed a penalty of $112,487.
The agency was prompted to investigate the aforementioned facilities by an anonymous complaint, alleging fall-hazards, at the Wellington site, and after having observed employees working on a roof without fall-protection, at the East Rutherford site. A repeat OSHA violator many times is the subject of repeated monitoring and subsequent inspections.
Agency inspectors issued citations for the following violations:
- Repeat violation
- Failure to mandate adequate fall protection
- Failure to mandate adequate eye protection
- Failure to implement a container for discarding of roof shingles
OSHA Hasbrouck Heights area director, Lisa Levy, said, “The fact that Hackensack Roofing allowed employees to work without basic fall protection on two separate sites is problematic and indicates a breakdown in their safety and health program. Falls in construction continue to be the leading cause of workplace fatalities. By repeatedly failing to comply with OSHA regulations, this employer continues to put its workers at risk, leaving them vulnerable to falls that could permanently injure or kill them.” A repeat OSHA violator is many times subject to increased fines.
A failure to implement adequate protective gear is one example of an easily avoidable safety violation. A failure to implement and maintain adequate fall-protection is among the most common of offenses. In the case of both violations processed to the company in discussion, a simple amendment to their processes would have ensured compliance. One resource that safety leaders can utilize, to that end, is an OSHA-approved on-site training course.