Region 5 News Release: 14-147-CHI
Jan. 30, 2014
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6976
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA cites Fry's Roofing and Construction
for safety violations
Toledo roofing workers repeatedly exposed to fall hazards

TOLEDO, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Fry's Roofing and Construction for two willful safety violations, carrying proposed penalties of $52,250. In July 2013, workers were observed working on a residential roof without proper fall protection. Since 2008, the company has been cited in five inspections for similar violations.

"It's unacceptable that Fry's Roofing and Construction repeatedly fails to ensure that workers use fall protection," said Kim Nelson, OSHA's area director in Toledo. "Falls remain the leading cause of death in the construction industry, and companies are responsible for implementing safeguards that create a culture of safety."

Two willful violations were cited for failing to ensure employees had fall protection while engaged in roofing activities and that employees wore eye protection when operating pneumatic nail guns. Fry's Roofing and Construction has previously been issued one repeat, two willful and two serious citations for these same violations.

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

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, such as guardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems, be in use when workers perform construction activities 6 feet or more above the next lower level.

Fry's Roofing and Construction 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.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Toledo Area Office at 419-259-7542.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.