Wisconsin Roofing Contractor Cited for Fall Hazards Violations

Juan Zuniga Ramos, principal of JZ Exteriors and Repairs LLC, reportedly failed to provide fall protection and train workers on its use. OSHA says the contractor has accused more than $30,000 in unpaid fines.

— Graphic courtesy of Pixabay

APPLETON, Wis. — Wisconsin roofing contractor Town City Construction faces $349,371 in penalties regarding fall hazard citations issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

OSHA cited Hector Able Hernandez – the operator of Town City Construction – with the penalties after inspectors observed roofing workers at heights greater than 6 feet at risk of serious or fatal injuries at two Appleton-area jobsites.

On May 16, 2022, in Greenville and on June 24, 2022, in Appleton, federal inspectors found Hernandez had employed 15 workers at the two sites for two weeks or less. Following these inspections, OSHA cited Hernandez for three willful and two serious safety violations for failing to provide eye, head and fall protection and train workers on fall hazards.

“Hector Able Hernandez continually puts vulnerable workers at risk by blatantly ignoring federal workplace safety laws that help protect workers from serious and sometimes fatal fall injuries,” said OSHA Area Director Robert Bonack in Appleton, Wis. “Falls are one of deadliest hazards in the construction industry, and yet Town City Construction knowingly fails to fulfill its responsibility to ensure worker safety.”

The penalties are in addition to $633,500 in OSHA penalties – still mostly unpaid – for similar violations found during 16 inspections since 2004.

“Our office has conducted more than 150 inspections of roofing contractors in 2022 — primarily in Outagamie County — following the widespread roofing damage caused by April’s severe storms,” Bonack said. “Employers are responsible for the safety of workers on the job. Those who hire roofing contractors can be another line of defense in protecting workers by insisting that the companies with whom they contract to make repairs follow federal safety regulations.”

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.