The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Benny's Roofing LLC, Cincinnati, for exposing employees to falls and other safety hazards. The company faces proposed penalties totaling $138,394. Benny's Roofing is not an NRCA member.
On Dec. 4, 2017, OSHA inspectors observed four roofing workers at a Cincinnati residential site working at heights greater than 13 feet without appropriate fall protection. Inspectors saw one employee using a rappelling rope while others used mountain-climbing harnesses. OSHA cited the employer for failing to train workers regarding fall hazards and for not conducting regular inspections for job-site hazards. OSHA notified the contractor during inspections in February 2017 and April 2017 that such harnesses do not meet OSHA's requirements for fall protection.
"Employers are responsible for ensuring employees are adequately protected from the hazards that exist at their worksites," says Ken Montgomery, OSHA's area director for Cincinnati. "This employer's repeated failure to comply with federal safety requirements is exposing employees to injuries from fall hazards."
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
