Illinois Roofing Company Fined $158K for Safety Hazards

Affordable Roofing and Exteriors Inc. in Trenton, Ill., has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for five safety violations, carrying proposed penalties of $158,015.

The citations follow inspections at three job sites where workers were improperly using fall protection during the installation of shingles on residential roofs, OSHA said. Since 2009, the company has been cited in five inspections for similar violations.

Residential job sites were inspected on July 15 in the 1400 block of Nameoki Road in Granite City. On June 27, an inspection took place in the 700 block of Lebanon Avenue in Belleville. On May 16, an inspection occurred in the 200 block of Dodge in Belleville.

At each job site, a willful violation was cited for failing to ensure workers used fall protection while performing residential roofing. The inspections were initiated under the national emphasis program for fall safety.

A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirement, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.

Two serious violations were cited at the Belleville job site for failing to provide eye protection to workers who used pneumatic nail guns and provide a ladder to access upper landings safely.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Affordable Roofing and Exteriors has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA