APPLETON, WI – After observing three roofers working at heights up to 18 feet without anchoring their fall protection (rendering the protection useless), a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspector cited their employer. This marks the fifth time that OSHA has discovered the Appleton-based contractor exposing workers to falls by failing to train and monitor them adequately, and the penalties proposed are commensurate with their continued negligence.

“If a fall arrest system is not worn and anchored properly, there is nothing to stop a worker from possibly becoming a statistic, as falls from elevations remain one of the leading causes of death in the construction industry,” said OSHA Area Director Robert Bonack. “Assigning workers to perform dangerous tasks without training them on how to protect themselves is inexcusable. OSHA will hold employers accountable when they fail to meet their legal requirements to provide safe working conditions.”

OSHA has an entire website devoted to stopping falls, the leading cause of death in the construction industry. The website offers video presentations and other safety information in both English and Spanish to teach workers about fall hazards and proper safety procedures.

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