Federal workplace safety inspectors have identified an Illinois construction contractor, previously cited seven times since 2020, for again exposing employees to the risk of deadly falls. The incidents occurred at two homes under construction in Hanover Park in December 2023 and February 2024.
Inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) observed employees of Maestro Construction Inc. working at heights up to 20 feet without adequate fall protection. Some workers wore fall protection gear incorrectly, rendering it ineffective. Additionally, OSHA discovered that the Bolingbrook-based company had not certified that employees were trained in fall hazards or the use of personal protective equipment. Damaged electrical cords were also found in use.
“Contractors like Maestro Construction that willfully ignore federal safety standards for fall protection are endangering the lives and well-being of their employees,” stated OSHA Area Director Jacob Scott in Naperville, Illinois. “Despite being cited seven times since 2020, this company continues to show a callous disregard for their employees’ safety, and we will continue to hold them accountable for their defiance of regulations.”
The violations were identified at two nearby worksites on Greenbrook Court. As a result, OSHA issued Maestro Construction two willful, two repeat, and two serious violations along with one other-than-serious violation. The proposed penalties total $264,407.
In 2023 alone, Maestro Construction was cited four times for fall-related violations.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1,056 construction workers died on the job in 2022; out of these fatalities, 423 were related to falls from elevation, slips or trips.
OSHA’s stop falls website provides safety information and video presentations in both English and Spanish to educate workers about fall hazards and proper safety procedures.
Further details can be found through OSHA's resources.
