Flashings

Roofing company cited for multiple safety violations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Ziggy's Roofing Inc., Norridge, Ill., after inspectors observed employees working on residential roofing projects without fall protection at two job sites within a month, according to www.osha.gov. On Jan. 29, OSHA issued three repeated citations, one willful citation and one serious safety citation to Ziggy's Roofing with proposed penalties totaling $115,500.

OSHA has inspected Ziggy's Roofing four times since 2003 for exposing workers to fall hazards on Chicago-area construction sites.

On July 29, 2015, an OSHA inspector observed four employees conducting residential roofing work in Chicago without fall protection, such as guardrails, safety nets or personal fall-prevention devices, putting the workers at risk of falls from a height of more than 14 feet. Employees on the ground also were working without head protection and using nail guns without eye protection.

On Aug. 17, 2015, OSHA inspectors observed two employees exposed to similar fall hazards as they worked on a two-story residential roof at a job site in Schaumburg, Ill.

"Ziggy's Roofing continues to ignore OSHA standards and is failing to protect its employees on the job," says Angeline Loftus, OSHA's area director for the Chicago North Office in Des Plaines, Ill. "OSHA will continue to monitor this employer for compliance and do everything in its power to keep workers safely out of life-threatening working conditions."

Ziggy's Roofing has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Ziggy's Roofing is not an NRCA member.

OSHA certifies New Jersey's safety plan

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has certified New Jersey's state plan for protecting the safety and health of state and local government workers. OSHA's certification of the New Jersey Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health State Plan took effect Jan. 22.

More than 530,000 state and local government workers employed at state, county and local government agencies; state and local government authorities; fire departments; and school districts are covered under New Jersey's state plan.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, states and territories can establish safety plans that cover only state and local government workers because those workers are excluded from federal coverage. For states with an approved state plan in place, OSHA funds up to 50 percent of the program's costs.

OSHA's certification of New Jersey's state plan recognizes the satisfactory completion of all structural and developmental aspects necessary to cover state and local government workers. New Jersey now is one of six states and territories that administer safety and health programs for state and local government workers. Private-sector and federal government workers remain under federal OSHA jurisdiction.

"This is a major milestone for New Jersey public employees, as well as the development of the state's occupational safety and health program," says David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "We applaud them for their ongoing commitment to protecting the safety and health of government workers who support the vital services that make New Jersey a viable place to live and work."

For more information about the New Jersey Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health State Plan, visit lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lsse/employer/Public_Employees_OSH.html.

Alliance unveils new planned giving program

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress recently established a formal planned giving program to create a source of long-term support while offering Alliance members and roofing industry professionals the tax benefits of deferred giving.

Through a planned gift, members and roofing professionals can leave a remembrance to the Alliance that can help fund research and programs to advance the industry for years to come, including:

• Cutting-edge education, research and technology that will allow for better training to develop the next generation of roofing professionals
• Access to new learning models, technology and proven methodologies to understand future trends, benchmarks and technical challenges
• Advocacy in the areas of sustainability, scholarships and charitable programs

Planned gifts can be made in a variety of ways, and the mechanisms can be tailored to accommodate individual situations. In addition, there can be important tax advantages for leaving resources to qualified charities such as the Alliance, which is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

For more information about how to include the Alliance in your will or estate plan, contact Alison LaValley, NRCA's vice president of member services and development, at alavalley@nrca.net or visit www.roofingindustryalliance.net.

OSHA announces national safety stand-down

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced its third annual National Safety Stand-Down will take place May 2-6 to raise awareness among employers and workers about the hazards of falls in the construction industry.

OSHA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Center for Construction Research and Training are leading the effort to encourage employers to pause during their workdays for discussions, demonstrations and training about how to recognize hazards and prevent falls.

"Falls still kill far too many construction workers," says David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "While we regularly work with employers, industry groups and worker organizations on preventing falls and saving lives, the National Safety Stand-Down encourages all employers—from small businesses to large companies operating at many job sites—to be part of our effort to ensure every worker makes it to the end of their shift safely."

During the 2014 and 2015 National Safety Stand-Downs, more than 4 million workers participated, and OSHA expects thousands of U.S. employers to join the event this year. To guide their efforts, OSHA has developed an official National Safety Stand-Down web page, www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown, with information about conducting a successful stand-down. After their events, employers are encouraged to provide feedback and will receive a personalized certificate of participation.

The 2016 National Safety Stand-Down is part of OSHA's ongoing Fall Prevention Campaign. During 2012, the campaign was developed in partnership with the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda program to provide employers with information and educational materials about how to take steps to prevent falls, provide the correct equipment for workers and train all employees regarding the proper use of safety equipment.

For more information about the National Safety Stand-Down, visit www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown. The website provides details about how to conduct a stand-down; receive a certificate of participation; and access education and training resources, fact sheets and other outreach materials in English and Spanish. To learn more about preventing falls in construction, visit www.osha.gov/stopfalls.