Roofing companies around the Denver metro and all around Colorado are being cited in record numbers by OSHA for failing to meet safety qualifications.
OSHA, The Occupational Safety & Health Administration, is teaming up with the Colorado Roofing Association and the Better Business Bureau to address these safety concerns.
“In the past six months, we have received 63 complaints related to unsafe work practices, and this is the beginning of the roofing season. The cost of providing fall prevention equipment is nominal compared with the cost of a senseless loss of life and livelihood,” stated OSHA Area Director of Englewood David Nelson, “Falls from heights of 6 to 15 feet accounted for 24% of all fatal falls in 2012.”
OSHA has been conducting random inspections on construction projects around the Denver metro and can cite businesses if they don’t meet established safety protocols.
Brief History of OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established in 1970 in the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. OSHA’s stated mission is to “assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance”.
Workplace Safety and Insurance
OSHA is out doing their job to make sure these businesses keep their workers safe but there are steps the homeowner can take as well to make sure not only that workers stay safe but that they are not liable should an accident happen on their property.
It is pertinent that use always check to see that a roofing contractor is properly insured before you let any worker step foot on your roof. If an accident were to happen on your property and the contractor is uninsured the homeowner can sometimes bear the brunt of covering personal injury.
Checking for proper liability insurance can also help cover the possibility of damage to your home. If the damage was caused by an uninsured contractor the homeowner will be stuck with the costs which will usually be greater than the actual work itself.
It also helps to make sure the workers used by the contractor are insured, in some scams that salesman will present insurance information for the company itself but hire out the work to another company or subcontractors who are not insured.
So make sure the check the insurance information, make sure it is current and that the company performing the actual work is insured as well.
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