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OSHA Regional News Brief
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Region 5


Please note: As of January 20, 2021, information in some news releases may be out of date or not reflect current policies.

 

 

Dec. 29, 2015

 

 

OSHA cites roofing contractor for exposing workers to fall hazards
Proposed fines total more than $76K

Employer name: Dealer Installations Services Inc.

Citations issued: Dec. 21, 2015

Investigation findings The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Peoria Area Office cited one willful, one repeated and six serious safety violations.

OSHA investigators found the Washington, Illinois-based company failed to protect roofers from fall hazards of up to 20 feet on a residential job site in Peoria on July 9, 2015.

The company also failed to properly use ladders to access the upper landing surface. The company was previously cited for failing to provide fall protection in February 2013.

The company also failed to:

  • Provide protective helmets, and eye and face protection
  • Use scaffolds and ladders correctly
  • Prevent workers from carrying objects and loads while accessing ladders exposing them to trip and fall hazards.

Dealer Installations Services, Inc. is one of many corporations operating under group name, Prairie Home Alliance. Prairie Home Alliance handles home improvement projects and serves homeowners throughout the state of Illinois. It offers a range of products that includes storm windows, sunrooms, gutters, garage doors, soffits, vinyl fence, and siding.

Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry. A graph depicts leves of falls for 2010 through 2014. 2010 had 255. 2011 had 255. 2012 had 279. 2013 had 291. 2014 had 337. BLS data for 2014 is preliminary. #StopFalls. osha.gov

Quote: "A worker can be severely injured or killed in a fall," said Tom Bielema, OSHA's Area Director in Peoria. "Roofing contractors know the requirements necessary to protect their workers from falls which remain the leading cause of death in the construction industry."

Proposed Penalties: $76,230

View Citations here: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/OSHA20152494fs.pdf

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 Peoria Area Office at 309-589-7033.

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Media Contacts:

Scott Allen, 312-353-6976, allen.scott@dol.gov
Rhonda Burke, 312-353-6976, burke.rhonda@dol.gov

Release Number: 15-2494-CHI


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