Fall Hazards Land Employer in SVEP
The hazards occurred during framing of new residential units in Omaha, Neb.
OSHA announced an enforcement action against Omaha-based Affordable Exteriors Inc., saying four of its employees were routinely exposed to dangerous fall hazards while completing a residential roofing job for homebuilder Hildy Homes in Elkhorn, Neb. OSHA has cited Affordable Exteriors for two willful violations for failure to provide required fall protection and fall protection training and, due to a what OSHA describes as a history of violating OSHA standards, the company has been placed in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
"Affordable Exteriors clearly hasn't made worker safety a priority. It has consistently broken the law by failing to provide fall protection to those employees working on roofs," said Marcia Drumm, OSHA's acting regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. "Since 2005, the company repeatedly refused to protect employees and provide proof that it fixed hazards found during OSHA inspections."
OSHA employees observed workers framing new residential units at heights of 9 to 18 feet on a steep section of roof without required fall protection. The work occurred on a home in the 3900 block of North 191st St. in Elkhorn. Two willful citations were issued for failure to provide basic safety equipment, such as guardrails, safety nets, warning line systems, or personal fall arrest systems. OSHA also found that the workers had inadequate training in fall safety.
OSHA has cited the company five times in the past 10 years for exposing workers to fall hazards. Affordable Exteriors repeatedly failed to correct safety deficiencies. The company also failed to pay penalties assessed from previous violations, which exceed $51,000. Additionally, Affordable Exteriors owner Rich Tiller failed to provide information requested during the June 17, 2014, inspection and only complied after OSHA initiated subpoena enforcement action.