TUMWATER, WA – The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) recently issued a put together $768,000 in fines towards three western-Washington roofing corporations for allegedly permitting employees to roof on best of homes with out utilizing drop defense and for other basic safety violations.
“It’s irritating to see these repeat offenders go on to blatantly disregard their employees’ basic safety and health and fitness,” claimed Craig Blackwood, assistant director of L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
According to L&I, Allways Roofing of Snohomish County, Wilson Roofing and Construction LLC of Kirkland, and Valentine Roofing Inc. of Tukwila have a record of ignoring protection needs. These new citations and fines are just the most up-to-date.
Allways Roofing, Snohomish
With the most fines of the a few, Allways Roofing in Snohomish was fined $425,000 for 7 security violations such as two alleged “egregious, willful, repeat violations,” the most severe penalty imposed by the state. The fines are for failure to use tumble defense or use content roofing brackets as tie off factors.
L&I also cited the employer for the alleged deficiency of worker eye protection even though employing nail guns, poor ladder use, and other basic safety violations observed by inspectors at a Snohomish house.
6 months in the past, Allways Roofing was fined $1.2 million for the same violations. And, about a calendar year in the past, the organization was also fined nearly $375,000.
“That’s $2 million in fines around the final 12 months,” stated Blackwood. “We won’t give up on our initiatives to guard these staff no matter how lots of moments we have to inspect, cite, and great the corporation.”
According to L&I, Allways Roofing has experienced at the very least seven major injuries which includes 5 falls from heights and two eye accidents from nail guns.
Wilson Roofing & Construction LLC, Kirkland
Wilson Roofing & Building in Kirkland was fined $247,000 for 6 security violations together with two alleged “egregious, willful, repeat violations” for absence of tumble defense and other protection violations whilst roofing a property in Ferndale.
In the course of an inspection, three roofers had been reportedly viewed carrying harnesses that have been not connected to tie off ropes even though performing on a steep pitched roof with a fall height of about 22 ft.
In the previous three many years, L&I has inspected Wilson Roofing & Design two times pursuing falls from heights, which finished in employees being hospitalized. In March 2019, the enterprise was cited and fined $42,000 for not guaranteeing slide protection was being utilized by its roofers.
Valentine Roofing Inc., Tukwila
L&I has fined Valentine Roofing $94,000 for 4 alleged critical protection violations.
According to L&I, a property owner in Lake Tapps contacted L&I immediately after she photographed employees of Valentine Roofing doing the job up to 16 ft superior on the roof with no wearing drop protection and with no working with eye safety when making use of a nail gun.
State inspectors reported they also noticed skylights and roof holes that did not have guardrails to protect against employees from slipping by means of.
The agency has inspected the company nine situations in excess of the previous a few many years and cited it frequently for drop defense violations.
Allways Roofing and Wilson Roofing have appealed the citations and fines. Valentine Roofing has right until January 27 to file an attraction.