U.S. companies continue to wrack up fall hazard violations (4/6)

What do roofing companies in Missouri and Nebraska and a homebuilder in Colorado have in common? All three exposed their workers to fall hazards, according to OSHA.

"Falls are a leading cause of injury and death in the workplace,” said Charles E. Adkins, OSHA’s regional administrator in Kansas City, MO. His office conducted an inspection that resulted in four citations and proposed penaties of $64,000 against

Allied Roofing Systems LLCof Springfield. Allied allegedly allowed its employees to work without fall protection while installing a roof, and failed to certify that they were trained to recognize fall hazards and the appropriate abatement methods.

Other companies cited by OSHA during April for exposing their workers to fall hazards were roofing contractor

Adrian Torres,doing business as

A & E Roofingin Newton, Kansas, and homebuilder

D.R. Hortonof Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Allied Roofing One was cited for allowing employees to work at heights greater than 6 feet without fall protection and for failing to properly certify that the employees were trained to recognize fall hazards and the appropriate abatement methods. The company also failed to record injuries and illnesses in the OSHA 300 log.

A & E Roofing came to the agency’s attention when its employees were seen performing residential roofing work with no means of fall protection.

Adkins said there is “no excuse” for companies to subject employees to fall hazards. "All employers, and especially those in high-hazard industries such as roofing, must take the necessary steps to eliminate hazards from the workplace."

A & E was issued four serious violations -- for not having an accident prevention plan and for allowing employees to work in areas with a possible danger of head injury without wearing protective helmets. The companies two repeat citations allege a lack of fall protection for employees working at heights, a lack of necessary training on fall hazards, improper use of ladders and a lack of training on the proper use of ladders.

D.R. Horton was cited -- along with four of its subcontractors -- for violating OSHA’s residential construction fall standard, for failing to protect workers from falls during framing and sheathing – something the company was cited for in April and September of 2006.

Denver-based subcontractors Kellory & Co. Inc., Webb Construction Inc., Dain Construction Inc. and LBR Construction Inc. are being cited for a lack of fall protection during framing and sheathing and inadequate training on the use of forklifts.

"D.R. Horton failed to properly manage a residential project jobsite by allowing subcontractor employees to be exposed to serious fall hazards," said John Healy, OSHA area director in Englewood. "This employer is well aware of the requirements for fall protection and has been cited several times for similar infractions."