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OSHA cites roofing contractor for reckless disregard

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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a Wisconsin roofing contractor for the fourth time in three years.

Federal and state inspections found that Bloomer, Wisconsin-based Affordable Exteriors L.L.C. has ignored safety and health laws by allowing employees to work without fall protection equipment, including seven employees seen working at heights of up to 25 feet at a residential site without fall protection equipment, according to a news release issued by OSHA Monday.

The agency issued two willful, one repeat and three serious citations and proposed total penalties of $112,200 stemming from an April inspection, according to the release.

This is the fourth time OSHA has cited Affordable Exteriors for not providing fall protection at job sites in Wisconsin and Minnesota, according to the agency. In 2014, OSHA and Minnesota OSHA cited the company for failing to provide fall protection at residential sites in Marshfield and Duluth, Minnesota. Affordable Exteriors was also cited in 2013 for violations in Duluth. The company has not responded to OSHA and Minnesota OSHA to resolve the citations and penalties, according to federal OSHA.

“Many people have told Affordable Exteriors to use fall protection — OSHA, Minnesota OSHA and the job-site contractor,” Robert Bonack, OSHA's area director in Appleton, Wisconsin, said in a statement. “The company ignored them all. That's a reckless disregard for safety. Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction injury. Three Wisconsin workers died last year from job-site falls.”

A company spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment.

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