OSHA inspectors who witnessed workers exposed to fall hazards at several commercial roofing projects began an investigation that resulted in a half dozen safety violations and $121,660 in fines against the contractor.

GTO Contractors in Neenah, Wis. was investigated under a local emphasis program on fall protection.

A willful violation – failing to provide fall protection on a steep-pitch roof – was cited at both locations. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

Two repeat violations involve not providing workers with fall protection training at either site. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited in 2007 at a work site in McFarland.

Finally, a safety and health program for workers was not implemented at either site, resulting in two serious violations.
Detailed information on scaffold hazards and safe work practices, including an interactive eTool, is available online at ww.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/index.html.

Prior to these inspections, GTO Contractors had been inspected by OSHA five times since 2007, resulting in citations for five violations related to fall protection standards.

The most recent citations can be viewed at www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/GTOContractors_107379_0322_12.pdf.