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OSHA Violations: Essex County Gutter Cleaning Company Cited For Alleged Fall Hazards
The Fairfield-based gutter company repeatedly failed to protect workers from fall dangers and other hazards, OSHA says.
An Essex County gutter cleaning and roofing company has been fined $108,200 after allegedly exposing its workers to fall hazards and other workplace dangers, according to authorities.
On Nov. 24, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued two repeat and four serious citations to the Fairfield-based Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning and General Contracting Inc.
According to the company website, Ned Stevens operates in 18 counties in New Jersey, including Essex and Hudson, and has been awarded an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
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In addition to gutter cleaning services, the company also specializes in underground drain snaking, outdoor spotlights and ice damming, according to its website.
OSHA officials conducted two separate inspections in May and October at 349 Windsor Terrace in Ridgewood and 728 9th Street in Carlstadt, allegedly finding a range of violations.
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According to OSHA reports, the federal agency conducted a safety inspection on May 26 in response to a complaint that alleged employees were working on a roof without fall protection.
A second inspection took place on Oct. 19, during which an OSHA compliance officer allegedly observed workers washing a roof without fall protection.
Ned Stevens was previously cited for these same violations in 2013 and 2014, according to OSHA officials.
In addition, the company exposed its employees to electrical hazards, provided its workers inadequate eye and face protection while spraying chemicals on a roof, and failed to establish a written respiratory protection program, OSHA officials alleged.
“Ned Stevens was previously cited for allowing employees to work on roofs without fall protection,” said Lisa Levy, director of OSHA’s Hasbrouck Heights Area Office. “The fall season is a busy time for gutter cleaning. It is crucial for Ned Stevens to acknowledge its responsibility to ensure a safe and healthful workplace, or be prepared to be held legally responsible for failing to do so.”
See the full list of citations here.
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File photo via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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