Inspection site: 86 Congress St., Salem, Mass. 01970
Date inspection initiated: OSHA's Andover Area Office began an inspection on Oct. 27, 2014, in response to a complaint.
Investigation findings: William Trahant, Jr. Construction, Inc. was cited by OSHA for one willful, one repeat and three serious violations of workplace safety and health standards. These include: lack of fall protection for employees repairing an asphalt shingle roof on a three-story house, inadequate anchorage points for fall arrest lines and not training employees to recognize and address fall hazards. An additional fall hazard stemmed from using a damaged portable ladder, with split rails and bent rungs, to access the roof. Finally, an employee working on the ground beneath the roofers lacked a hardhat, exposing him to falling objects.
The willful and repeat citations stem from this employer's history of fall protection violations. William Trahant, Jr. Construction, Inc. was previously cited by OSHA for similar violations in August 2014 for a worksite located in Revere, Mass., September 2012 for a site in Peabody, and July 2011 for another site in Peabody.
Proposed Penalties: $43,560.
Quote: "Trahant Construction continues to demonstrate a wanton disregard for employee safety, exposing its employees to deadly or disabling injuries on multiple occasions," said Anthony Covello, OSHA's acting area director in Andover. "Falls are the leading cause of death in construction work. This employer must take steps to effectively train and enforce a culture of safety for himself and his employees."
Next Steps: William Trahant, Jr. Construction, Inc., has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Andover Area Office at 978-837-4460.