Ohio Contractor Cited for 6th Time Since 2018 for Deadly Fall Hazards
OSHA's recent investigation has led to proposed penalties amounting to over $230,000.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says that a Hartsville contractor continues to ignore the federal requirement to protect fall protection to employees. The contractor has been cited for the sixth time since 2018 for exposing workers to deadly fall hazards on two separate Ohio job sites.
Investigators with OSHA determined that ILS Construction and its owner failed to provide employees with fall protection equipment and did not train them on its use. Because of this, OSHA proposed penalties totaling $237,013.
“Complying with federal safety regulations is not optional. When an employer requires employees to work from heights greater than six feet, they must provide fall protection, appropriate equipment and train workers to use the equipment safely,” said OSHA Area Director Howard Eberts in Cleveland. “Fall hazards make roofing work among the most dangerous jobs in construction and the most frequently cited hazard by federal safety inspectors. Workers should expect their employer to keep them safe on the job and OSHA will hold employers accountable for failing to do so.”
According to a press release, on Dec. 2, 2021, the agency issued three willful, two repeat and two serious violations after observing employees working on a residential home in Stow. OSHA cited the company and Lowky for not providing fall protection and training, failing to ensure workers used hard hats and safety glasses and not providing a ladder extended at least three feet above the landing surface.
At the time of the December inspection, OSHA was already investigating the company after observing employees working at heights greater than 10 feet on a Parma commercial building on Oct. 27. OSHA cited the employer for a lack of fall protection and training and for not providing a ladder or others means to exit elevated surfaces safely.
OSHA previously cited Lowky and ILS Construction for similar hazards in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Lowky has not paid previously issued OSHA penalties.