OSHA has cited Lake Worth, Fla.-based roofing company Garabar for exposing employees to safety hazards at a worksite in Royal Palm Beach, Fla. The company faces a total of $64,974 for the alleged violations, according to an OSHA news release.
OSHA inspectors cited the contractor for exposing employees to fall hazards by allowing them to make repairs to a roof without fall protection. The agency also cited Garabar for allowing company employees to use an extension ladder that did not extend at least three feet beyond a landing surface, for placing the ladder in front of a driveway without securing or barricading the base as required, and for allowing employees to operate a circular saw without eye protection. OSHA conducted the inspector of Garabar in conjunction with the agency’s Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction.
“Falls continue to be a leading cause of injuries and fatalities in construction,” said OSHA Fort Lauderdale, Fla., area office director Condell Eastmond. “Employers have an obligation to provide a workplace free of recognized hazards, and ensure all safety and personal protective equipment are correctly used.”
Garabar has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal hearing with its OSHA area director, or contest the findings.