Gresham Contractor Fined for Repeated Fall Protection Violations
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division issued more than $113K in penalties to a residential contractor for repeat safety failures.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Mar 09, 2026
Oregon OSHA has fined a Gresham-based contractor $113,852 after an inspection revealed repeated failures to protect workers from fall hazards.
The enforcement action followed an inspection of a multistory residential construction site in Lake Oswego. Investigators found an employee installing composite shingles on a roof without any form of fall protection system in place. According to the division’s findings, the worker was exposed to a potential fall of up to 12 feet.
Under state safety standards, employers are required to provide and implement fall protection systems whenever workers are exposed to heights of 6 feet or more. This incident marks the fourth time since May 2023 that the company, New Exteriors LLC, has been cited for violating these specific requirements.
"Working at heights is dangerous," said Renée Stapleton, administrator for Oregon OSHA. "That is why there are clear and effective safety standards in place to address the very real risk of a worker falling. Any employer who directs employees to work at heights must account for fall hazards from the standpoint of prevention."
Because the typical result of such a hazard is worker fatality, Oregon OSHA rated the severity of the violation as "death." The high penalty amount reflects the agency’s policy of multiplying fines for repeat offenses.
In addition to the primary fine, the company received an "other-than-serious" citation for failing to document that the employee had received proper training in fall protection systems.
Under the Oregon Safe Employment Act, workers maintain the right to safe working conditions and may raise safety concerns without fear of retaliation. According to federal data, falls remain one of the leading causes of death in the construction industry.
The company corrected the violations during the inspection and has filed an appeal of the citation.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.