OSHA has cited Florida-based Brad McDonald Roofing & Construction for exposing employees to fall and other safety hazards at two construction sites across the state, according to a news release from the agency. The roofing company faces $274,215 in penalties for the alleged violations.
Agency inspectors initiated investigations at the company's worksites in Lutz and Palmetto, Fla., after observing employees improperly using fall protection while performing roofing-related activities. OSHA cited the firm for willfully exposing employees to fall hazards by not ensuring employees tied off to anchor points or used fall arrest systems correctly. The firm was also cited for allowing employees to use nail guns without eye protection.
OSHA has inspected Brad McDonald Roofing nine times since 2014, with each visit resulting in citations for violating OSHA's residential fall protections standards. Prior to the violations found at Brad McDonald Roofing & Construction's Lutz and Palmetto worksites, OSHA fined the company $49,796 for fall hazards discovered at a jobsite in Odessa, Fla., in November 2018. The company has 15 business days from the receipt of the citations and proposed penalties for its Lutz and Palmetto worksites to comply, request an informal hearing with their OSHA area director, or contest the findings.
“Employers have a legal requirement to protect workers,” said OSHA Tampa, Fla., area director Les Grove. “Employers are required to train workers on how to properly use equipment and recognize on-the-job hazards. Being vigilant about safety can prevent injuries and save lives.”
