Department of Labor cites Long Branch contractor for 32 violations in 4-month span for willfully exposing employees to deadly fall hazards
Road Contractor Corp. faces $819K in proposed penalties
LONG BRANCH, NJ – A Long Branch construction contractor with a history of ignoring federal fall safety standards has again been found exposing employees to potentially deadly fall hazards in eight work site inspections from November 2023 to March 2024.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened the eight inspections of Road Contractor Corp. in Evesham, Freehold, Manalapan, Marlton, Mullica Hill and Rumson as part of OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on Falls. In 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 395 fatal workplace falls, the leading cause of death in the construction industry.
“Since July 2023, we have found in 24 inspections that Road Contractor Corp. exposed its employees routinely to dangerous falls and other safety hazards common in residential construction,” said OSHA Area Director Paula Dixon-Roderick in Marlton, New Jersey. “OSHA will use its legal authority to hold accountable employers like Road Contractor Corp. that callously disregard the safety of their employees and potentially jeopardize their lives.”
In the eight inspections, OSHA investigators identified 32 safety violations with $819,417 in proposed penalties. In each, the agency found the company failed to provide workers with required fall safety protection. In addition, investigators cited the company for the following:
- Allowing employees to use portable ladders unsafely.
- Exposing employees to silica hazards and failing to train workers to recognize them.
- Allowing the operation of machines without required guards.
- Failing to have hazardous communication or written exposure control programs.
- Not providing employees with eye and face protection.
OSHA conducted the eight inspections as follows:
| Inspection date | Inspection site | Cited violations | Proposed penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 16, 2023 | 131 Wisteria Court, Freehold | 1 willful, 1 serious | $78,080 |
| Nov. 16, 2023 | 70 Magnolia Drive, Freehold | 1 willful, 1 repeat, 4 serious | $107,488 |
| Dec. 14, 2023 | 21 Charlotte St., Marlton | 1 willful, 3 repeat, 4 serious | $133,575 |
| Jan. 30, 2024 | 12 Ashlynn Court, Manalapan | 1 repeat, 1 serious | $21,293 |
| Feb. 6, 2024 | 1001 Tuckerton Road, Evesham | 2 willful, 3 repeat, 2 serious | $183,261 |
| Feb. 29, 2024 | 29 Ward Ave., Rumson | 1 willful | $70,982 |
| March 8, 2024 | 37 Vinegold Drive, Mullica Hill | 2 willful, 1 serious | $134,864 |
| March 19, 2024 | 4 Tori Lane, Manalapan | 1 willful, 1 repeat, 1 serious | $89,604 |
Registered in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Road Contractor Corp. provides wood framing and sheathing services for residential construction projects. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
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Original article published by OSHA