(OSHA) More than $460,000 in fines proposed against Long Island, NY, contractor for fall and scaffolding hazards

Painting & Decorating Inc. was cited by OSHA for repeat fall and scaffolding hazards following an inspection of a work site in Manhasset, N.Y. The painting and stucco contractor has a long history of fall protection and scaffold safety violations and now faces an additional $460,350 in OSHA fines. OSHA's Long Island Area Office opened an inspection at the work site on March 31 under its local emphasis program aimed at preventing falls in the construction industry. The inspection identified that the employer had failed to protect workers from numerous fall and scaffolding hazards, many of which were similar to those cited during previous OSHA inspections of five other Painting & Decorating work sites during the past several years. Hazards included not having the scaffold inspected for defects by a competent person during erection and before workers began work on the scaffold, not restraining the scaffold against tipping, and a lack of protective helmets. Read the news release for a full list of citations. To learn about OSHA's Campaign to Prevent Fatal Falls in Construction, visit the fall prevention Web page.