Florida Roofing Accused of Exposing Workers to Fall Hazards, Fined Over $100K

Melbourne, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) A Florida construction company has been hit with a hefty fine from OSHA for workplace violations.  Turnkey Construction Planners Inc. was cited for exposing its workers to fall hazards at two of its worksites located in Port Lucie, Fla. The company, based in Melbourne, Fla, has been slapped with a fine of $114,294.

Back in 2019, OSHA initiated the inspections as part of the Regional Emphasis Program (REP) for Falls in Construction after discovering that employees had allegedly been working on roofs without fall protection. The REP makes sure there’s effective enforcement of protections and outreach when there are hazardous working conditions in the construction industry.  This program is considered vital because falls are the leading cause of death for construction workers on job sites.

Last September, Turnkey was cited for the following serious violation

• On the west roof edge of a residential garage structure under construction employees were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 9 feet-10 inches when gaining access to and from a roof by using a portable ladder that did not extend at least 3 feet past the roof edge.

The company was additionally  cited for the repeated violation of failing to ensure effective protection against falls as required by the standard. It said employees installing roof dip edge on a roof for a residential garage with a pitch of 5:12, without the use conventional fall protection, were exposed to a fall hazard greater than 9-feet to ground level.

Turnkey was previously cited for a violation of this same standard at other worksites in Port Saint Lucie, Vero Beach, and Palm Coast, Fla. Specifically, OSHA said the company failed to protect workers who installing shingles on a roof with a pitch of 4:12, without the use of conventional fall protection, exposing them to a fall hazard greater than 9-feet to ground level.

“Employers have a duty to provide a workplace free of recognizable hazards,” said OSHA Fort Lauderdale Area Office Director, Condell Eastmond in a press release. “Roofing contractors can mitigate risks for their workers by ensuring all employees use approved fall protection systems. Employers can contact their local OSHA office for assistance in making their worksites safe.”

It is not known if Turnkey Construction Planners Inc. will contest the violations or not. 

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