April 12, 2016

Five times in one year, Jasper Contractors expose workers
to dangerous falls, other workplace violations
OSHA proposes $280K in fines for roofing company after two recent inspections

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Recent federal inspections of Florida construction sites finds Jasper Contractors Inc., a Georgia-based roofing company, is continuing its seven-year history of ignoring safety and health laws and putting workers at risk of serious injury or death.

Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has completed 13 inspections at Jasper work sites and found 24 violations. The agency has cited the roofing contractor with willful, serious and repeat violations for a lack of fall and eye protection and ladder safety. To date, Jasper's safety failures have resulted in OSHA assessing more than $516K in penalties for violating federal fall protection, personal protective equipment and other safety standards.

In 2015 alone, the agency opened five inspections at residential jobsites where Jasper employees were working, and found continued violations of the fall protection and eye protection standards.

In two of those 2015 inspections, in October and November, at residential job sites in Jacksonville, OSHA cited the company with four willful safety violations and $280,000 in proposed penalties in addition to another $140,000 in penalties for additional willful citations bringing total penalties issued against Jasper within the last month to $420,000. Inspectors found the employer did not ensure employees were properly wearing fall protection equipment and exposed workers to the risk of falls from as high as 8-feet. They also found the employer failed to ensure workers operating powered nail guns used eye protection.

"Despite its claim that its employees 'are adults who know the risks,' Jasper Contractors has a legal responsibility to protect its employees," said Brian Sturtecky, OSHA's area director in Jacksonville. "This company's dismissive approach toward workplace safety is illegal and irresponsible. OSHA will continue to use all its available resources to ensure workers are protected."

View the current citations:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/JasperContractorsInc_1107776_04112016.pdf
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/JasperContractorsInc_1097900_04112016.pdf

Based in Kennesaw, Georgia, Jasper Contractors specializes in residential and commercial roofing. It also has offices in Louisiana, Indiana and Florida, serving Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Evansville, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and the surrounding areas. The company 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.

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Media Contacts:

Lindsay Williams, 678-237-0630, williams.lindsay.l@dol.gov
Michael D'Aquino, 678-237-0630, d'aquino.michael@dol.gov

Release Number: 16-643-ATL (95)

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