Wisconsin Contractor Fined for Fall Hazards, Repeated Violations
Brookens Construction faces hefty penalties after another OSHA inspection.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Oct 27, 2023
Brookens Construction LLC, a roofing contractor based in Windsor, Wisconsin, has once again entered OSHA’s radar. The organization has proposed penalties totaling $132,593 against the company for two willful, two serious violations and one other-than-serious violation.
The latest inspection, launched on May 12, 2023, revealed workers were exposed to potential fall hazards at a residential site in Appleton, Wisconsin. Notably, an OSHA inspector witnessed an employee from subcontractor Eaglevision LLC shingling a roof without the necessary fall protection. Brookens Construction also failed to provide proper training for fall hazards.
In addition, OSHA cited the company for its failure to ensure subcontractors adhered to safety protocols, such as performing regular site inspections. Inspectors also saw workers using pneumatic nail guns without eye protection—risking injury from flying debris—and noted the use of a damaged ladder. Brookens previously faced similar citations in both 2019 and 2022.
"Our inspector found that Brookens Construction's project manager failed to require subcontractors working on their job sites to comply with safety and health requirements despite spending several hours at each site documenting satisfactory replacement of a residential home roofs," OSHA Area Director Robert Bonack in Appleton, Wisconsin, said in a statement. "Fall hazards are the leading cause of injuries and death in the construction industry. Employers can protect workers by following federal and industry recognized safety standards to protect workers on the job."
Brookens Construction now has 15 business days from the receipt of these citations to comply, seek an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or challenge the agency’s findings.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.