Contractors cited over lack of fall protection

Six contractors constructing luxury single-family homes in Medford, New Jersey, have been fined a total of $244,397 for allegedly putting workers at risk of serious or fatal injuries by failing to comply with federal requirements to prevent falls, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Monday.

After multiple on-site investigations on what OSHA calls one of the leading causes of death in the construction industry, OSHA cited the companies for exposing workers to falls and other dangerous safety hazards while erecting walls and sheathing roofs, according to a statement.

In total, OSHA cited the companies collectively for four willful and 35 serious violations, including exposing workers to falls greater than six feet and not providing personal protective equipment.