By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Federal officials have fined a northwest Missouri roofing company $205,369 for its part in the fatal fall of an employee in March.
The Department of Labor reports an 18-year-old employee of Troyer Roofing and Coatings of Jamesport fell more than 22 feet on March 27th while applying sealant to a commercial building’s roof. The employee died after spending five days in a coma.
Inspectors with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration report Troyer allowed a foreman and another worker to complete the shift without fall protection after the fatal fall. OSHA also accuses Troyer of allowing employees to decide whether or not to use fall protection.
“Troyer Roofing & Coatings could have prevented this young worker’s death by requiring their employees to use fall protection equipment. Disturbingly, the employer allowed other workers to go back to work on the same roof without fall protection,” OSHA Area Director Karena Lorek said in a written statement. “Employers have an obligation to comply with requirements that are designed to prevent tragedies such as this from occurring.”
OSHA claims Troyer failed to require employees to use fall protection and failed to train them how to use it. Investigators also say the company failed to train employees on property forklift operations, failed to provide workers with face and eye protection, and did not have a written hazard communication program for sealants and other chemicals.