Derry-based Ridge Runner Construction has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for "willful, repeat and serious safety violations" at worksites in both Merrimack and Salem, N.H.
According to a Feb. 27 news release, Ridge Runner Construction employees worked on ladders that didn't extend a minimum of three feet above the roofs' edges for required stability and the company exposed workers to falls of up to 20 feet while doing roofing work.
“Ridge Runner Construction’s continued failure to safeguard its employees against potentially deadly and disabling hazards is disturbing,” OSHA Area Director Joseph LaRose Sr. said in the release. "Falls are the leading cause of death in construction work, and employers must plan ahead, provide employees with effective tools and training and conduct frequent inspections to ensure jobs are done safely."
Employees also weren't given proper training to prevent falls, didn't ensure lifelines were properly anchored and have a "competent person" fix the dangers at either work site, the release stated.
This isn't the first time Ridge Runner Construction as been cited, the release reported. The company received fall-related citations in both 2017 and 2021 at worksites in North Reading and Peabody, Mass.
According the release, Ridge Runner faces $234,741 in proposed penalties for the latest citation. The company has 15 business days to comply with OSHA's directives, request an informal conference with the agency's local director or dispute the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed, of the 986 construction workers who died on the job in 2021, 378 of those deaths were fall-related, according to the release. OSHA offers some safety tips on its website in an effort to teach construction workers about proper safety steps and how to prevent tragedies.
