Roofer's Death Prompts OSHA Crackdown In Philly Area

After an "alarming" number of preventable incidents at Philadelphia-area work sites, OSHA said Wednesday is calling on local construction companies to ensure their employees follow proper procedures to protect them from workplace injuries and deaths.

The action comes after a 37-year-old roofer fell to his death at a Haverford worksite.

According to OSHA, on July 7, Roy Chacon fell 25 feet to the ground. His death was the latest of five incidents since June 13, 2016, that resulted in the death or injury of workers without proper fall protection, OSHA said.

“With basic fall protection in place, these employers could have prevented these tragedies. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the deceased worker and with those who must learn to cope with permanent disabilities because their employers failed to ensure a safe workplace,” said OSHA Philadelphia Area Office Director Nicholas DeJesse.

“Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, and the use of proper fall protection can be the difference between death and workers going home to their families. We at OSHA cannot – and will not – tolerate employers who jeopardize worker safety.”

OSHA’s Philadelphia Area Office has conducted 129 inspections related to worker falls in the construction industry since Oct. 1, 2015. The agency said it found falls accounted for 40 percent of all fatalities investigated by the office.

A grassroots safety awareness campaign called Grassroots Injury-Illness Prevention launches this month. The effort is a collaboration between OSHA, the City of Philadelphia’s Licenses and Inspections and the Philadelphia Project on Occupational Safety and Health.

"Launching this month, GRIIP will bring together employers, workers, labor union and other workplace safety advocates for a series of forums seeking a collaborative approach to address construction site health and safety issues," OSHA said.