The Washington Department of Labor & Industries issued a combined $768,000 in fines against three Washington roofing companies for reportedly allowing workers to roof on top of homes without using fall protection and for other safety violations.
Always Roofing of Snohomish County, Wilson Roofing and Construction LLC of Kirkland, and Valentine Roofing Inc. of Tukwila have a history of ignoring safety requirements, and These new citations and fines are the latest, according to L&I.
Allways Roofing was fined $425,000 for seven safety violations including two egregious, willful, repeat violations. The fines are for failure to use fall protection or use material roofing brackets as tie off points. L&I also cited the employer for lack of worker eye protection while using nail guns, improper ladder use, and other safety violations observed by inspectors at a Snohomish home.
Allways Roofing was reportedly fined $1.2 million six months ago for the same violations. And, about a year ago, it was fined nearly $375,000. The company is in the Severe Violators Enforcement Program, subjecting the firm to greater scrutiny.
Allways Roofing has had at least seven reportedly serious injuries, including five falls from heights and two eye injuries from nail guns.
Wilson Roofing & Construction was fined $247,000 for six safety violations, including two egregious, willful, repeat violations for lack of fall protection and other safety violations while roofing a home in Ferndale.
During an inspection, three roofers were reportedly seen wearing harnesses that were not attached to tie off ropes while working on a steep pitched roof with a fall height of about 22 feet.
L&I has inspected Wilson Roofing & Construction twice in the past three years following falls from heights, which reportedly hospitalized employees. In March 2019, the company was cited and fined $42,000 for not ensuring fall protection was being used by its roofers. Wilson Roofing & Construction is now considered a Severe Violator.
A homeowner in Lake Tapps contacted L&I after she photographed employees of Valentine Roofing working up to 16 feet high on the roof repotedly without wearing fall protection and without using eye protection while using a nail gun.
State inspectors said they also observed skylights and roof holes that did not have guardrails to prevent workers from falling through.
L&I fined Valentine Roofing $94,000 for four serious safety violations. The agency has inspected the company nine times over the past three years and cited it repeatedly for fall protection violations.
Allways Roofing and Wilson Roofing have appealed the citations and fines. Valentine Roofing has until Jan. 27 to file an appeal.
Topics Washington
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