McCraren Compliance

Fall Safety Failures

Massachusetts contractor, repeat violator, again exposes workers to potentially fatal falls, leading to $306K in OSHA penalties

Boston roofing site lacked adequate fall protection, scaffolding, ladders, safety training

BRAINTREE, MA – A Framingham roofing contractor with a history of fall-related safety violations again exposed its employees to potentially fatal falls, this time to falls of up to 20 feet at a residential worksite in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood.

Brothers Construction Services Inc. – which also operates as Brothers Construction and Roofing and Brothers Roofing – faces $306,229 in penalties following a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection.

OSHA opened an inspection of Brothers Construction Services Inc. at the Lexington Avenue worksite on Aug. 17, 2023, in response to a complaint that workers on the roof of a residential property were not using fall protection. Inspectors observed multiple OSHA violations involving inadequate fall protection, scaffolds, ladders, training, safety inspections and personal protective equipment.

Specifically, Brothers Construction Services Inc. did not:

As a result of these conditions, OSHA cited Brothers Construction Services Inc. for eight willful, repeat, serious and other than serious violations, carrying a total of $306,229 in proposed penalties.

View the citations issued to Brothers Construction Services Inc.

“Falls remain the number one killer in construction work, year in and year out. Yet, this employer and too many others repeatedly fail to provide and ensure basic, commonsense and legally required safeguards for their employees,” said OSHA area director James Mulligan in Braintree, Massachusetts.

“At this worksite, OSHA inspectors observed eight workers exposed to falls of up to 20 feet due to lack of fall protection, employee training, an improperly erected scaffold and failure to have a competent person inspect the jobsite to identify and correct hazards,” added Mulligan. “Brothers Construction Services Inc.’s violations left its workers one slip, trip or misstep away from a potentially fatal incident.”

Since 2011, OSHA has cited Brothers Construction Services Inc. and/or commonly owned Brothers Construction and Roofing, Brothers Roofing and AS General Construction & Roofing Inc. for similar hazards at worksites in Acton, Arlington, Dedham, Framingham, Holliston, Middleboro, Wareham and Woburn, Massachusetts, and Windham, New Hampshire.

Brothers Construction Services Inc. 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.

OSHA’s stop falls website offers safety information and video presentations in English and Spanish to teach workers about fall hazards and proper safety procedures.


McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by OSHA

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