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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US Department of Labor fines Des Plaines solar contractor $288K in penalties for exposing workers to deadly fall hazards

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US Department of Labor fines Des Plaines solar contractor $288K in penalties for exposing workers to deadly fall hazards
DES PLAINES, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a solar panel and battery storage company with two repeat safety violations after federal investigators found the company exposed workers to deadly fall hazards twice within three months. Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration observed employees of Sunrun Installation Services Inc. of Des Plaines working without required fall protection while installing solar panels at two residential homes in the Chicago suburbs – one in Oak Park on June 18, 2024, and another in Skokie on Aug. 8, 2024. Falls from elevations are the leading cause of fatal and serious injuries in the construction industry.OSHA cited the company for two repeat safety violations and proposed $288,087 in penalties. The company has been cited previously for similar violations in Massachusetts in 2022 and New Jersey in 2023.“It is unacceptable that Sunrun Installation Services Inc. allowed workers to be exposed to falls at two separate locations within weeks. Sunrun must take immediate action to ensure no employee works at heights above six feet without using required fall protection,” explained OSHA Chicago North Area Director Sukhvir Kaur in Arlington Heights, Illinois. “Falls from elevation can cause life-altering and deadly injuries, all of which can be prevented through proper protective equipment and worker training. Employers who ignore their obligations are putting their workers’ lives and well-being in serious risk.”Founded in 2007, Sunrun Installation Services Inc. designs, installs and analyzes solar panel systems, and provides maintenance services to small and medium businesses, federal government, agriculture and cold storage, and retail and distribution sectors. Sunrun is headquartered in San Francisco. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 1,069 construction workers died on the job in 2022 and 395 of those deaths were fall-related. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that falls caused about 20,000 worker injuries annually between 2013 and 2022.OSHA’s stop falls website offers safety information and video presentationsin English and Spanish to teach workers about fall hazards and proper safety procedures. The agency also offers compliance assistance resources on Protecting Roofing Workers and recommendations for developing a safety and health program.Learn more about OSHA. 

Published at December 16, 2024 at 04:00AM
Read more at https://dol.gov

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