OSHA cites roofing contractor in teen’s death

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a roofing contractor in the death of a 16-year-old boy who fell while working at a Nashville, Tennessee, hotel site, the Department of Labor announced Tuesday.

The teen, who was employed by a subcontractor hired by Stover and Sons Contractors Inc., had been performing roof work 11 stories above the ground when he allegedly tried to jump onto a hoisting device next to the building and fell about 160 feet to his death, the DOL reported.

Stover received two serious citations from OSHA, with penalties of more than $10,000. The company is contesting the citations.

In addition, the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division assessed Stover more than $122,000 for alleged violations of child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act for allowing a worker under the age of 18 to perform roofing activities or operate or ride power-driven hoisting apparatus. The DOL also alleged that the company allowed the boy to work more than eight hours a day and more than 40 hours per week when he was 15 years old, which also violates child labor law.