The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHA) has fined a Medford contractor over $128,000 for safety violations after an inspection found the company exposed employees to multiple hazards, including a potentially deadly fall from heights.
The division completed its inspection of Shrader Homes Inc. in November, citing the company for five violations of requirements to protect workers from serious injury or death. The 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. Falls are one of the leading causes of death in the construction industry, and Oregon OSHA significantly increases penalties for repeat violations. The division ordered the company to correct the violations.
Oregon OSHA conducted the inspection of Shrader Homes under its prevention-based emphasis program addressing fall hazards in all industries. The division cited the company for protection systems not being implemented where employees were exposed to a hazard of falling 6 feet or more to a lower level.
The side rails of a ladder were not extended at least 3 feet above an upper landing. 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. A ladder with a broken anti-slip safety device was used when it should have been tagged as defective or removed until it was repaired, and eye protection was not used while running a pneumatic nail gun.
The total penalty issued to Shrader Homes included a standard reduction based on the size of the company. Employers have 30 calendar days after receiving a citation to file an appeal. Shrader Homes filed an appeal of its citation.
