Kansas Roofing Contractor Cited for Safety Violations

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Adrian Torres, doing business as A & E Roofing in Newton, Kan., with two serious and four repeat violations for exposing workers to fall and other hazards at a Wichita-area worksite. Proposed penalties total $58,200.

OSHA initiated its inspection in February 2011 when employees of the company were observed performing residential roofing work with no means of fall protection.

The serious citations allege that the employer did not have an accident prevention plan and allowed employees to work in areas with a possible danger of head injury without wearing protective helmets.

The 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. 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. The company was cited for similar hazards in September and November of 2007.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director in Wichita or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA