OSHA Cites Roofing Company After Impaling Fatality

Aug. 2, 2006
OSHA has cited Aleluya Roofing Co., Miami, with alleged safety and health violations following a fatal construction accident with proposed penalties totaling $154,800.

"This horrific accident could have been avoided if the employer had followed required safety procedures," said Luis R. Santiago, OSHA's area director in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "Tragedies like this simply should not happen."

The fatality occurred Jan. 25, when an employee fell from the roof of a six-story Abbott Avenue building in Miami and was impaled on the pickets of a wrought-iron fence. The worker was assisting the operator of a trolley hoist when the rear of the machine lifted up, causing the machine and the employee to fall to the street below.

OSHA issued one willful citation with a maximum $70,000 proposed penalty for the employer's failure to comply with the manufacturer's operating specifications for the trolley hoist. An additional willful citation with a proposed penalty of $44,000 was issued because fire exits were reportedly fastened closed with lumber and blocked on four separate occasions.

Aleluya Roofing also received 11 serious citations with proposed penalties totaling $40,800. These citations included the failure to:

  • Provide fall protection in a hoist area and at the edge of a flat roof.
  • Train employees to recognize fall hazards.
  • Protect employees from an array of dangers.

Sponsored Recommendations

April 25, 2025
Environmental audits should be a core part of your EHS program regardless of whether you choose to pursue ISO 14001 certification.
April 25, 2025
Streamline EHS inspections. Conduct, track, and manage inspections effortlessly with customizable checklists, real-time reporting, and actionable insights.
April 25, 2025
A winning business case is based on the ROI of the project. The essential first step is determining your EHS costs today.
April 25, 2025
The use of QR codes can greatly simplify observation, near miss, and incident reporting and improve the quantity and quality of data. The more safety information that is collected...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!