New Jersey Contractor Fined $50,000 for Fall Protection Failure

Fall protection failure was cited by OSHA in their citing of  R.E. General Contractor, LLC with one serious safety violation and two repeat violations.  Fines total approximately $50,000. The Paterson, New Jersey contractor was the target of an imminent danger inspection December 2012.

R.E. General Contractor specializes in roofing and siding. During the time of the inspection, workers were completing a roofing project on a commercial building in Paterson. The two repeat violations cited by OSHA involved fall protection failure while performing work on a roof.  Construction employees were working at dangerous heights without proper safety protection. The additional repeat violation was related to improper use of a ladder. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also issued a serious safety violation to the contractor dealing with neglecting to provide hard hat protection for workers.

Fall Protection Failure Results in Fatalities

Previously, OSHA cited R.E. General Contractors with similar violations.  The Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey OSHA office issued a statement reminding employees of their responsibility to provide adequate fall protection for workers at risk to fall hazards. Additionally, it is imperative employers train employees on how to wear and use fall protection equipment. It is the responsibility of all companies to provide a safe and healthy environment for their employees in which to work. It is also their responsibility to provide proper training in safety equipment that is required for employee use in the performance of their job.

The latest data released by OSHA indicates 35 percent of all construction worker deaths result from falls. Falls are considered the leading cause of all construction worker fatalities at work sites. Along with electrocutions, struck by object, caught in/between, falls are identified as construction’s “fatal four. Fall protection failure, therefore, should  consistently be a target for scrutiny within any company’s safety program, especially if workers are involved with performing work at heights.