The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hector Hernandez, owner of Town City Construction, Appleton, Wis., for exposing employees to falls and other safety hazards at two job sites, according to www.osha.gov. Town City Construction is not an NRCA member.
On Nov. 30, 2017, OSHA inspectors observed Hernandez's employees working without fall protection on a steep-slope roof system at a residential job site, and on March 28, inspectors observed Hernandez's employees exposed to falls while working from improperly erected ladder jack scaffolds at a residential job site. In May, Hernandez received citations for one repeated and two willful violations for failing to provide fall protection, failing to train workers about fall hazards, improper installation of an extension ladder for safe use and failing to provide required ladder jack scaffold components. Proposed penalties total $120,320.
"Employers are required to provide fall protection to employees working in construction at heights above 6 feet," says Robert Bonack, OSHA's area office director for Appleton. "This employer's repeated failure to comply with federal safety requirements exposes employees to fatal injuries from fall hazards."
Hernandez has 15 business days from receipt of his 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.
