Being busy building this Summer is no excuse for OSHA violations. These 3 very recent fines cost the companies almost $350,000. What do you think the cost of providing what OSHA requires would have cost? A lot less than the fines.
Illinois—A roofing contractor was cited with three repeat violations and one serious violation. The repeat violations were issued for failing to provide fall protection in residential construction, failing to ensure that portable ladders extended at least 3 ft above upper landing surfaces, and failing to provide eye and face protection.
Total Penalty: $104,572
Pennsylvania—A modular home builder was cited with one serious and one repeat violation. The repeat violation was issued for failing to provide fall protection to employees on walking-working surfaces with unprotected sides or edges 4 feet or more above a lower level. The serious violation was issued for failing to ensure that employees on runways 4 feet or more above a lower level were protected with a guardrail system.
Total penalty: $43,458
South Dakota—A commercial construction contractor was cited with 2 willful violations and 21 serious violations following a fatal accident. While an employee was removing two load-bearing walls of a building, the entire building structure collapsed on top of him and killed him. The willful violations were issued for failing to provide required training and failing to complete an engineering survey prior to demolition activities.
Penalty: $200,628
Below are the penalty amounts adjusted for inflation as of Jan. 13, 2017.
Type of ViolationPenalty
Serious, Other-Than-Serious:
Posting Requirements$12,675 per violation
Failure to Abate$12,675 per day beyond the abatement date
Willful or Repeated$126,749 per violation
