Massachusetts Workers' Compensation Lawyer Blog
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Amilicar Samper Perez, under the name Roof Systems, for alleged repeat and serious violations of workplace safety standards while its workers were installing a roof. The contractor faces a total of $44,880 in fines for fall hazards.
OSHA observed workers unprotected from falls up to eleven feet two inches while installing roofing without any use of fall protection. Workers had not been trained to acknowledge these hazards, and workers using pneumatic nail guns were not wearing any eye protection. OSHA previously cited Perez in 2008 and 2009 for similar hazards.
Because of the recidivism, OSHA issued the employer three repeat citations carrying fines of $37,400. A repeat violation exists when an employer was previously cited for the same or similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule, or order at any other facility within the past five years.
Perez was also issued three serious citations carrying with them $7,480 in fines for ladder hazards and not training workers to recognize these hazards. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that a death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard and the employer knew or should have known.
OSHA’s area director stated, “Our inspectors all too often encounter job sites where fall protection is inadequate or absent. Lack of fall protection means employees are one slip or step away from deadly or disabling falls. For the safety and well-being of their workers, employers must provide effective fall protection for their employees and ensure that their workers are trained to recognize and address fall hazards.”
OSHA has also created a Stop Falls Webpage with detailed information on fall protection standards.
Pulgini & Norton, LLP attorneys have handled workers’ compensation claims for over 25 years in and around Boston and its surrounding areas. If you or a family member has been injured at work and would like to seek legal assistance, please contact us at (781) 843-2200 or (888) 344-2046 or email us.
Cited Sources:
US Labor Department’s OSHA cites Milford, Conn., roofing contractor, proposes nearly $45,000 in fines for fall hazards at local work site, OSHA.gov, January 31, 2013