ALJ Decision in StormForce of Jacksonville, LLC Directed for Review

After receiving an anonymous complaint about hazardous working conditions, the Jacksonville Area Office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an inspection of a roofing job at a house in West Jacksonville, Florida. Compliance Safety and Health Officer Nolan Houser conducted the inspection. At the worksite, he found five roofers on a 13 ½ foot high, low-sloped, residential roof, none of whom appeared to be using any form of fall protection. The crew consisted of employees of Florida Roofing Experts, Inc. (FRE). From information he obtained on the site, CSHO Houser discovered StormForce of Jacksonville, LLC, (StormForce) was the general contractor for the job. Based upon these findings, the Secretary issued StormForce a single item citation alleging a serious violation of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.501(b)(13) for failure to provide fall protection. The Secretary issued the citation to StormForce under the multi-employer worksite doctrine. The Secretary proposes a penalty of $10,210.00 for the citation.