Pablo Lopez of Norcross has been cited by OSHA for three repeat and one serious safety violation following inspections at two work sites in Milton and Smyrna where employees were performing roofing work without fall protection. The inspections began in February and April 2014 as part of the agency's Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction. Proposed penalties total $83,930.

"It is unacceptable that Lopez continues to violate OSHA standards by exposing workers to serious fall hazards," said Christi Griffin, director of OSHA's Atlanta-West Area Office. "Allowing repeat violations to occur only demonstrates the employer's lack of commitment to safety and the lives of his workers."

No fall protection on steep-sloped roof

The repeat violations were cited for exposing workers to fall hazards between 14 and 24 feet when employees installed shingles on an unprotected, steep-sloped roof; for failure to ensure the extension ladder that workers used to access the roof extended 3 feet above the landing area; and for allowing employees to carry shingles from a material lift without wearing fall protection. These repeat violations total $80,850. The employer was cited for these same violations in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The serious citation, with a $3,080 penalty, was issued for using a material lift as a ladder to access the roof, which exposed workers to fall hazards of up to 28 feet.

Resources

OSHA has created a fall prevention Web page at 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.