Press Release
☷St Louis contractor faces $267K in fines after again exposing roofing workers to potentially deadly fall hazards this time at 5 Wentzville job sites
U.S. Department of Labor ( By Press Release office)
Apr 05,2024
| 29| 1
A contractor in St . Louis is facing some hefty fines of $267K after once again putting their roofing workers at risk of dangerous falls . This time , the violations occurred at five different job sites in Wentzville between October and November 2023 . The U . S . Department of Labor ' s Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ) conducted investigations after witnessing employees of H R Vasquez Construction working on roofs without proper fall protection equipment . OSHA found that the company failed to provide fall protection for employees working at heights greater than six feet , neglected to ensure workers using nail guns wore proper eye and face protection , allowed the improper use of ladders , did not have a written hazard communication program , and failed to establish an accident prevention program . In total , OSHA cited the company for 13 violations and proposed penalties amounting to $267 , 332 . This isn ' t the first time H R Vasquez Construction has been in trouble with OSHA . Since 2021 , the agency has cited them seven times for endangering their roofing workers . Falls from heights are a serious issue in the construction industry , often resulting in permanent or fatal injuries . In 2022 alone , the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 1 , 069 construction worker deaths , with 395 of those being related to falls . To combat this , OSHA and other organizations are promoting the 11th annual National Safety Stand - Down to Prevent Falls in Construction , taking place from May 6 - 10 , 2024 . We ' ve teamed up with a bunch of organizations like NIOSH , NORA , CPWR , ASSP , NSC , NCSE , and more to help employers and workers learn about safety stand - downs and fall safety . Check out our website for videos and resources in English and Spanish . We also have info on protecting roofing workers and developing safety programs . If you get cited , you have 15 days to comply , request a meeting with OSHA , or contest the findings . Find out more about OSHA now!
PLAY the NEWS
* May be useful for visually impaired persons .
Press release information:
Direct link to press release:
Click here .
