OSHA cites Julio Galindo for 6th time in 9 years for failing to provide fall protection to workers. Company owner served with subpoena requiring him to cooperate with investigators

April 15, 2015

Employer name: Julio Galindo, 3812 Fayette Road, Columbus, Ohio

Investigation site: 3556 Oakway Drive, Toledo, Ohio

Date investigation initiated and what prompted inspection: On Dec. 5, 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Toledo Area Office initiated an inspection of residential contractor Julio Galindo after receiving a complaint alleging workers were exposed to fall hazards at a residential jobsite in Toledo.

Investigation findings: OSHA issued four repeated and three serious violations for exposing workers to falls and other hazards while re-roofing an existing residence and garage. In order to obtain information necessary for the inspection, a subpoena was served on company owner, Julio Galindo, who had refused to cooperate with inspectors.

Four repeated violations cite the company for:

• Exposing workers to fall hazards of up to 20 feet because the company failed to provide fall protection
• Failing to train workers on the use of and requirement for fall protection equipment.
• Not providing workers head protection while exposed to overhead hazards.
• Not providing eye and face protection while operating pneumatic nail guns.

The company was previously cited for these violations on June 2013 and April 2014 on worksites in Columbus, and Westerville, Ohio. OSHA issues repeated violations when an employer has been previously cited for the same or a similar violation in the past five years. 

Three serious violations were cited for failing to conduct job site inspections, instruct employees to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions and improper use of ladders.

Proposed Penalties: $56,980.

Quote: "By refusing to cooperate with OSHA and correct these dangerous problems, Julio Galindo continues to expose employees to serious - and preventable - physical harm, and this is unacceptable," said Kim Nelson, OSHA's area director in Toledo. "With everything we know about how to work safely, it's troubling to see how many workers are still injured every year in the construction trades, and particularly from falls. This is unacceptable." 

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 Toledo Area Office at 419-259-7542.