Failure To Follow Fall Protection Standards Results In 30-Foot Fall
Despite warnings from federal safety inspectors, a roofing contractor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is facing huge fines and possible legal consequences following the death of a worker. In February 2022, safety inspectors warned Premier South Roofing, LLC of failing to comply with fall safety standards after observing employees on a roof without proper fall protection.
On April 2, 2022, six employees were working on a roof repair and replacement when one worker lost their footing, stepped on a skylight, and fell through it. The 30-foot fall hospitalized the 22-year-old employee who later died from their injuries.
Following OSHA’s April inspection, Premier South was cited for two repeat violations for failing to provide fall protection and verify employee training. The company is now dealing with $249,323 in proposed fines, along with any legal action the employee’s family may wish to take.
Fall protection continues to be one of the biggest violations on construction jobsites and enforcement of those standards is a high priority for OSHA inspectors and investigators. According to OSHA statistics, falls are the leading cause of death on construction sites. In 2020, of the 1008 construction deaths, 351 (34.8%) were due to falls.
OSHA Area Director Roderic Chube had a stern warning in response to this incident:
“Falls continue to be the leading cause of deaths in the construction industry and yet, employers like Premier South Roofing LLC repeatedly failed to protect their workers from the risk of disabling injuries or worse. Ensuring that workers are trained on and use proper fall protection, as required by law, can prevent tragedies such as this from recurring.”
OSHA Area Director Roderic Chube, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Click here to learn more about OSHA’s fall prevention strategy for your business and take the lead in protecting your employees.
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