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U.S. Department of Labor | |
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| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
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OSHA News Release
2003 - 11/24/2003 - Rochester, N.Y., Roofing Contractor's Failure to Guard Workers against Fall Hazards Leads to Nearly $58,000 in OSHA Fines |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 2 03-781-NEW /BOS 2003-309 Monday, November 24, 2003 Contact: Ted Fitzgerald Phone: (617) 565-2074 Rochester, N.Y., Roofing Contractor's Failure to Guard Workers against Fall Hazards Leads to Nearly $58,000 in OSHA Fines
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A Rochester roofing contractor's failure to protect workers against falls of up to 21 feet at a Greece, N.Y., jobsite has resulted in a total of $57,800 in fines from the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Upstate Roofing Inc., of 1300 Brighton-Henrietta Town Line Road in Rochester, has been cited for alleged willful and serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act following an OSHA inspection conducted Sept. 11, 2003, at a jobsite located at 2780 Ridge Road West in Greece. OSHA began its inspection after employees were observed working without fall protection at roof's edge. "Employers know that fall protection is required whenever workers work six feet or more above the next level, so the company faces a tough fine for the disregard for worker safety," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's Buffalo area director. "Falls are the number one killer in construction work." OSHA issued a willful citation, with a proposed fine of $56,000, for the lack of fall protection. A willful violation is defined by OSHA as one committed with an intentional disregard for, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the OSHA Act and regulations. A repeat citation, carrying a fine of $1,800, was issued for failing to supply safe access to the roof in the form of ladders that extended 3 feet above the upper landing surface. OSHA issues a repeat citation when an employer has previously been cited for a substantially similar hazard and that citation has become final. In this case, OSHA cited Upstate Roofing in May 2001 for a similar hazard at a North Chili, N.Y. jobsite. Upstate Roofing has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to either elect to comply with them, to request and participate in an informal conference with the OSHA area director, or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. OSHA's Buffalo area office at 5360 Genesee St., Bowmansville, NY, conducted the inspection. The telephone number is (716) 684-3891. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and illnesses, and protecting America's workers. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. ### The information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (617) 565 2072. TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) Message Referral Phone: 800-347-8029 |
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OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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