Federal investigators cite Florida roofing contractor for willfully, repeatedly ignoring fall protection standards, propose $349K in fines

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Federal investigators cite Florida roofing contractor for willfully, repeatedly ignoring fall protection standards, propose $349K in fines ORLANDO, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Florida roofing company for willfully putting workers at risk of falling at residential construction sites. Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that on Jan. 21, 2026, Orchids Builders LLC exposed workers to a 10-foot fall hazard when it failed to provide them with fall protection while they installed sheathing on a sloped roof at a Rockledge worksite. On March 10, 2026, OSHA investigators found the employer exposed a worker to a 9-foot fall hazard while installing metal hurricane clips at another Rockledge worksite. OSHA also found that Orchids Builders failed to prepare and maintain written fall protection training certificates for employees at both worksites, did not ensure workers had eye protection while using nail guns,...
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Historic foundry faces nearly $1M in penalties after Department of Labor finds dozens of violations endangering workers in Syracuse

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Historic foundry faces nearly $1M in penalties after Department of Labor finds dozens of violations endangering workers in Syracuse
NEW YORK ­­– Federal inspectors have found a Syracuse iron foundry, operating for more than 150 years, continued its pattern of violating federal regulations. The foundry has been cited for more than two dozen willful, repeat, serious and other violations.Inspectors with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Frazer & Jones LLC in October 2024 for exposing employees to the risks of fire and explosion, thermal and chemical burns, falls, and other hazards.In 2023, OSHA cited Frazer & Jones, operator of one of the nation’s largest ductile and malleable iron foundries, for two serious violations. In 2021, the company reached a settlement agreement with the department and agreed to correct 60 violations and pay $276,189 in penalties identified in a 2019 inspection.“Frazer & Jones’ troubling history of exposing its employees to serious hazards must end,” said OSHA Area Director Jeffrey Prebish in Syracuse, New York. “Despite their agreement to correct violations, they once again failed to implement proper safeguards. OSHA will continue to perform its mission and hold employers accountable when they fail to meet their legal obligations to protect the safety and health of their workers.”OSHA cited the foundry operator for four willful, 13 repeat, seven serious and three other-than-serious violations and assessed penalties set by federal statute, totaling $990,186 in proposed fines. Read the health and safety citations.Specifically, inspectors found Frazer & Jones exposing employees to the following hazards:Fire and explosion from uncapped natural gas vent lines during industrial furnace maintenance.Struck-by injuries while operating cranes, hoists and lifting devices with identified deficiencies.Falls from walking and working surfaces not protected by guardrails. Asphyxiation from hazardous atmospheres for workers entering the kiln, a permit-required confined space, for maintenance.Caught-in dangers from failing to lock-out energy sources before machine maintenance.Thermal burns while lighting burners with a natural gas torch.Chemical burns while using hazardous chemicals without labels and emergency eyewash stations inaccessible to employees working with corrosive chemicals.Overexposure to respirable crystalline silica without engineering controls or respiratory protection.Frazer & Jones LLC in Syracuse employs about 150 people who cast components for use by the automotive, construction, electrical, natural gas, oil and gas, rail, tool and utility industries throughout the U.S.Frazer & Jones LLC has contested its citations and penalties to the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.Learn about controlling hazardous energy and permit-required confined spaces. Learn more about OSHA.

Published at November 15, 2024 at 04:00AM
Read more at https://dol.gov

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