A Missouri roofing company cited for fall hazards in four separate inspections since 2010 has continued to endanger its employees, according to OSHA, which has cited Andres Roofing Co. Inc. for four repeat safety violations with proposed penalties of $52,800.

Installing shingles on a pitch roof...

Workers at aKirkwood construction site were installing new roof shingles on a pitch roof almost 22 feet high without any type of fall protection, directly violating OSHA construction safety standards. The company also failed to provide eye and face protection for workers operating power tools.

Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry.

The same violations were cited at various construction sites throughout the St. Louis area in April 2010 and in March, June and November 2011.

Resources

OSHA has created a Stop Falls Web page at http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls with detailed information in English and Spanish on fall protection standards. The page offers fact sheets, posters and videos that vividly illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures. OSHA standards require that an effective form of fall protection be in use when workers perform construction activities 6 feet or more above the next lower level.