Oregon's watchdog for workplace safety has clamped down on a repeat offender construction company with fines surpassing the hundred grand mark. According to a recent report by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA), Bend-based Sky Ridge Construction LLC is on the hook for a hefty $103,438, slapped with the fine for not keeping their workers safe from the kind of tumble that could put them in a pine box.
An inspection carried out as part of an initiative to mitigate fall-related casualties in the workplace zoomed in on a residential project where the Sky Ridge crew was found playing fast and loose with gravity. The Oregon OSHA inspectors witnessed workers waltzing on rooftops sans any fall protection, flirting with an 18-feet drop. This wasn’t a one-off but the third instance since January 2022 that Sky Ridge Construction tossed OSHA's rules out the window. They may have fixed the issue on the spot during the inspection, but the damage was done and a punitive fine issued.
"There is no good reason for an employer to direct employees to work at heights without ensuring fall protection systems are effectively used," Renée Stapleton, administrator for Oregon OSHA, stated firmly. She hammered home that it's not just about complying with the regulations but upholding the workers' hard-earned right to a safe workplace.
Falls are not just a scare for construction workers – they are among the top killers in the industry. And while the Bend firm seems to have learned to correct violations when caught red-handed, Oregon OSHA wants it crystal clear: safety isn't a privilege, it is an obligatory part of the job. Employers like Sky Ridge Construction have 30 calendar days to put up a fight against the citation if they think it's unjust.
In the pursuit to shore up workplace safety, Oregon OSHA isn't just wielding the stick but also offering a carrot in the form of free resources. They've rolled out a Fall Protection Suite and a full A-to-Z of fall protection resources readily available online to educate employers on how to send their workers home in one piece.
