Employees Exposed to Dangerous Falls: Florida Framing Contractor Cited by U.S. Department of Labor
Falls are a leading cause of death in the construction business. In fact, this week May 7-9 is known for safety awareness, especially for fall safety and prevention. A Safety Stand-Down is raising fall safety awareness across the United States. Construction companies take some time out this week to focus their attention on this serious issue of safety. As part of OSHA’s regional emphasis program for falls in construction and roof activities, inspectors observed the safety practices of companies regarding this dangerous issue.
The timing of this is critical for a Florida Framing Contractor, Desouza Framing Inc., who was just cited by the U.S. Department of Labor for exposing employees to dangerous falls. Proposed penalties for the Jacksonville residential framing contractor are $199,178.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspected one of the worksites in Jacksonville last October. The company’s employees were observed performing roof activities without fall protection. These workers performed roof activities as high as 11 feet. In a second inspection at another worksite, employees were observed working up to 22 feet high without fall protection. Consequently, the employer was cited with two willful citations due to failure to ensure the proper use of fall protection.
OSHA Jacksonville Area Office Director, Brian Sturtecky commented in a public statement, “Employers are required to provide employees with fall protection when they work at heights of six feet or higher. Desouza Framing Inc. is putting workers at risk of serious injury by failing to comply with the Agency’s fall protection standards.”
Desouza Framing Inc. will have 15 business days to comply, request conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings of the report to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Fall Protection Training For Roof Activities
This case is one of many examples of companies that are failing to ensure the proper use of fall protection while performing roof activities and other dangerous work. It is so important that all employees be trained for fall safety. We offer a variety of courses that will equip employees with a comprehensive understanding of safety procedures and guidelines. To find out more about our safety courses, browse our catalog.
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