Florida Company Cited for Exposing Workers to Fall Hazards

No less than 3 months after OSHA had released its top ten list of most cited standards for 2013, a Florida-based company was cited for violating the top standard on the list, the Fall Protection standard. According to an OSHA regional news release, The Roof Authority Inc., a construction/real state company based in Fort Pierce, was cited for exposing workers to fall hazards, following an inspection last August at its Pompano Beach job site. The company was cited for one willful violation for the fall hazards, and one serious safety violation for struck-by hazards.


The inspection was conducted under OSHA’s regional emphasis program for fall incidences in construction. According to the news release, The Roof Authority didn’t provide workers fall protection when they were tasked to remove roofing materials for the project. The willful citation resulted to $53,900 in fines. As it implies, a willful violation is committed when the employer is aware of the hazards a job entails but does not perform any actions to address them.

Falls are the leading cause of construction deaths in the United States. OSHA says that 264 out of 774 total construction deaths were linked to falls in 2010.

OSHA has developed a fall prevention campaign with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and NIOSH’s National Occupational Research Agenda Program. The campaign aims to provide employers and their workers complete information on how to protect themselves from hazards linked to working at ladders, scaffolds and roofs. It focuses on getting three things done: planning ahead, providing workers the right kind of equipment, and training workers on how to use equipment and PPEs. Visit our previous blog posts to know more on fall accident prevention and fall protection:

Construction Industry Promotes Fall Protection at Symposium

Check out other news:

http://www.oshacampus.com/blog/new-jersey-keyport-company-fined-53900-by-osha/

http://www.oshacampus.com/blog/the-importance-of-having-an-osha-fall-prvention-or-rescue-plan/

http://www.oshacampus.com/blog/investing-in-fall-safety-training-and-prevention/

http://www.oshacampus.com/blog/a-recap-of-oshas-re-launched-fall-protection-campaign-plan-provide-train/

Stay current and informed of protecting yourself from fall hazards by completing an OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 training course today. Speak with one of our representatives today.

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