OSHA Proposes Over $1M in Fines Against North Florida Roofing Contractor

JACKSONVILLE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Florida Roofing Experts Inc. – a Jacksonville, Florida, roofing contractor owned by Travis Slaughter – for failing to protect workers from falls at two work sites, one in Fleming Island, and the other in Middleburg, Florida.

According to OSHA, the citation follows inspections initiated by the agency on July 11 and 12, 2019 in response to complaints of employees performing residential re-roofing activities without fall protection. Given the employer's extensive history of violations, pursuant to OSHA's egregious citation policy, the agency issued eight willful citations for failing to protect employees from fall hazards. Florida Roofing Experts Inc. is facing $1,007,717 in penalties.

OSHA has investigated Florida Roofing Experts and its predecessor, Great White Construction, 19 times within the last seven years, resulting in 42 citations related to improper fall protection, ladder use, and eye protection. According to an OSHA statement, “The employer continues to allow employees to work without fall protection, and has made no reasonable effort to eliminate the risk.

OSHA has placed Florida Roofing Experts in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program due to high-gravity willful, egregious violations related to fall hazards.

According to Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt, “OSHA has extensive resources to help employers and workers understand how to comply with fall protection standards. Fall protection and training requirements that address falls continue to be among the top 10 cited OSHA standards. Fatalities and injuries from falls are preventable.

Florida Roofing Experts Inc. has 15 business days to appeal against these citations and penalties.

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To avoid such citations and penalties, and to ensure worker protection, enroll in our OSHA Competent Person for Fall Protection Training for employees in the construction industry.

Here are more details about the OSHA Regulations followed by the State of Florida.