October 12, 2016

OSHA investigation at Bucks County housing development marks 6^th time
Georgia-based roofing contractor cited for exposing workers to fall hazards
Home Live Roofing fined $101,121 for safety violations

Employer name:

Home Live Roofing LLC

936 East Calloway Road

Marietta, Georgia

 

Inspection site:

2101-2104 Jefferson on-the-Creek

Warminster, Pennsylvania

Citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the company one willful, two repeat and one serious safety violations on Sept. 29, 2016.

Investigation findings: After receiving a complaint related to falls hazards on the work site, OSHA began its inspection on Aug. 25, 2016.

The roofing contractor failed to provide adequate fall protection while its employees worked approximately 18 feet above a lower level, resulting in the willful citation.

The repeat violations involved the company's failure to enforce the use of protective eyewear among workers who used pneumatic nail guns, and an improperly set extension ladder where the side rails did not extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface. Home Live Roofing was previously cited for similar hazards in 2013, 2014, 2015 and in 2016.

OSHA cited the serious violation because fuel storage was not equipped with a fire extinguisher.

Quote: "Over the past two and a half years, this employer was cited five times by OSHA offices in Georgia and Missouri for violations related to fall protection hazards. This includes citations received just four weeks ago that resulted in nearly $30,000 in penalties," said Jean Kulp, director of OSHA's Allentown Area Office. "Fall protection is a basic, yet critical employer-provided safeguard that protects workers from being injured or killed on the job, especially in the construction industry where falls are the leading cause of death."

Proposed penalties: $101,121

The citations can be viewed at: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/HomeLiveRoofingLLC_1172732.pdf

The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a 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 amputations, eye loss, 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 Allentown Area Office at 267-429-7542.

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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Media Contacts:

Leni Fortson, 215-861-5102, uddyback-fortson.lenore@dol.gov
Joanna Hawkins, 215-861-5101, hawkins.joanna@dol.gov

Release Number: 16-1986-PHI (osha 16-126)

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The department's Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).