The Roof Doctor Inc. has been cited by The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries for exposing workers to fall hazards without the proper protection equipment. According to the State Department of Labor & Industries, The Roof Doctor is responsible for making six “willful violations” while their workers were roofing a house in Castle Rock in July from heights reaching up to 23 feet.
Each of the six violations carries a maximum penalty of a fine of $70,000 bringing the total to over $420,000 in fines. During the Labor and Industries Department investigation into The Roof Doctor’s operations the company was also cited for one serious violation that carries a penalty of $7,000 and is described as failure to effectively train workers in how to use systems and equipment designed to protect against falls. The company reportedly required workers to pay for their own protective equipment which should have been provided at no cost.
“Falls from heights are completely preventable, and yet they’re a leading cause of worker fatalities and hospitalizations in our state,” said Anne Soiza, assistant director for the Labor and Industries’ Division of Occupational Safety and Health. “We’re hopeful that this will lead to proper fall protection practices for all of their workers, all the time, going forward.”
According to reports from the Labor and Industries Department this is the eighth time that The Roof Doctor has been cited for fall protection violations since 2012. In addition, this is the second six figure fine that the company has incurred since 2014. The last citation, totaling over $200,000 in fines, is currently under appeal.
Multiple violations have labeled The Roof Doctor as a severe violator by the Labor and Industries Department and thus subject to follow-up inspections which will determine if the conditions continue to exist in the future. The Roof Doctor is one of Washington State’s largest roofing companies and employs over one hundred employees in nine counties. The company currently has until February 12th to appeal the fine and any money paid as a result of the fines will go to the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund.
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