OSHA Cites Roofing Company For Unsafe Work Environments

Boynton Beach, FL (WorkersCompensation.com)- A Florida-based roofing contractor has been cited by OHSA for exposing its workers to fall hazards at two of its job sites in Boynton Beach, Fla. OSHA slapped Camaney Services of Central Florida Inc. with a fine of $49,930 for the violations following inspections in February and April.

WorkersCompenation.com reached out to an OSHA spokesperson about why the agency decided to inspect Camaney Services' job sites, and they stated that "One inspection was initiated in response to a report from local PD where an employee fell and suffered traumatic injuries and the other was initiated in response to a complaint that alleged employees were exposed to fall hazards while engaged in roofing operations."   

The company was fined for seven serious violations in total from OSHA's two inspections. Among them were: 

• Failing to develop and implement an accident prevention program that included the following elements: management commitment and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, and safety and health training to ensure employees were protected from fall hazards when engaged in construction activities.
• Failing to inspect a worksite to ensure a means of conventional fall protection system was made available for employees who were performing roofing work, thus exposing employees to a fall hazard of 18 feet to ground level.
• Exposing employees to a fall hazard of 18 feet to ground level while performing roofing work on a 7/12 pitch roof without using any means of conventional fall protection system.
• Failing to train employees who were installing trusses without using a means of conventional fall protection system on the recognition of fall hazards, thus exposing workers to a fall hazard of 18 feet to ground level.
• Allowing an employee to use a ladder that did not extend three feet above the landing surface, thereby exposing the worker to a fall of approximately 18 feet to ground level.
• Allowing an employee to use an "A" frame ladder in the closed position and placed vertically against a concrete wall, thereby exposing the to a fall of approximately 8 feet to ground level.

A serious violation was levied against the company following the second inspection. OSHA said an employee was exposed to a fall hazard of 20 feet to ground level, in that no fall protection was being used when the employee was performing work on a roof with a 6/12 pitch.

The above cases are the only two inspections that Camaney ever had by OSHA. In a press release, Fort Lauderdale Area Director Condell Eastmond noted, "Falls are the leading cause of work-related injuries and fatalities among roofers. Employers must provide the right fall protection equipment and train workers on how to use the equipment safely."

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations handed down to them to either comply content the findings in front of the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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