Oregon Contractor Fined $128K for Workers Safety Violations

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division fined a Medford contractor $128,345 for safety violations after an inspection reportedly found the company exposed employees to multiple hazards, including a potentially deadly fall from heights.

The division cited Shrader Homes Inc. for five violations of requirements to protect workers from serious injury or death following an inspection focused on a jobsite in White City, where employees were doing framing work on a two-story residence.

One of the violations was a fourth repeat infraction for failing to provide fall protection, another was a second repeat violation of a ladder safety rule. Oregon OSHA significantly increases penalties for repeat violations. The division ordered the company to correct the violations.

The division cited the company for the following violations:

• Protection systems were not implemented where employees were exposed to a hazard of falling 6 feet or more to a lower level. The serious violation was rated as “death,” because the typical result of the hazard would be the death of an employee. It was a fourth repeat violation. Fine: $110,309.
• The side rails of a ladder were not extended at least 3 feet above an upper landing. It was a second repeat offense. Fine: $13,800.
• Protection systems were not implemented where employees were exposed to a hazard of falling from a wall opening on the second-floor decking to a lower level. Fine: $1,412.
• A ladder with a broken anti-slip safety device was used when it should have been tagged as defective or removed. Fine: $1,412.
• Eye protection was not used while running a pneumatic nail gun. Fine: $1,412.

The total penalty issued to Shrader Homes included a reduction based on the size of the company. Shrader Homes filed an appeal of its citation.

Topics Contractors Oregon