A Lake Zurich roofing company is facing over $260,000 in fines after OSHA says the contractor was cited for 13 violations, including repeatedly exposing workers to potentially deadly falls.
Inspectors with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) observed employees of Fino Exterior Inc. working atop residential structures without legally required fall protection equipment on four occasions in 2024.
It is the eighth time since 2020 that OSHA has cited the roofing company for exposing workers to falls from elevation, which is the leading cause of fatal and serious injuries among people employed in the construction industry, the federal agency said.
The four instances in 2024 occurred in Palatine on February 6, Orland Park on June 12, Palos Heights on August 16 and Shorewood on October 16.
OSHA said Fino Exterior’s history of ignoring federal safety regulations continued as the agency cited the company for 13 safety violations in three inspections in four months, bringing the proposed penalties to $262,631.
“Fino Exterior’s blatant disregard for its employees’ safety is a callous invitation to tragedy,” OSHA Chicago South Area Director James Martineck said.
“All too often, our inspectors find construction contractors violating regulations repeatedly in their misguided belief that their workers will not fall victim to serious injuries or worse,” Martineck said.
In addition to a lack of fall protection, OSHA cited Fino Exterior for permitting employees to work near energized power lines, not providing employees with required hard hats, failing to train workers in fall protection hazards and prevention, lack of eye protection for workers operating pneumatic nail guns and improper use of ladders.
“A worker can lose their footing and fall off a roof in seconds,” Martineck said.
“Falls from elevation can cause life-altering and deadly injuries all of which can be prevented by using required protective equipment and training workers in its use. Employers who ignore their obligations are putting their workers’ lives and well-being in serious risk,” Martineck added.
The company received similar citations after six inspections since 2020 and two others issued under a previous operating name, Arellano Roofing Corp. Fino Exteriors is currently liable for $65,115 in unpaid OSHA penalties.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 1,069 construction workers died on the job in 2022 and 395 of those deaths were fall-related.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that falls caused about 20,000 worker injuries annually between 2013 and 2022.