Kirkland Roofing Company Among 3 Fined For Safety Violations

KIRKLAND, WA — The state Department of Labor and Industries has fined a Kirkland-based roofing company nearly $250,000 after investigators ruled it committed six safety violations, officials announced Tuesday.

L&I said Wilson Roofing & Construction failed to ensure workers were adequately protected from falls in several instances, including a pair that were "egregious, willful, repeat violations" while on the job in Ferndale. State officials said investigators witnessed three roofers wearing harnesses that were not attached to tie-off ropes, despite working on a steep roof more than two stories high.

According to the state, the same company was investigated for two previous falls and in 2019 was fined $42,000 for failing to enforce proper safety protocols. After the latest citations, the company is now considered a "severe violator," officials said.

Tuesday's announcement also included significant fines levied against two other Western Washington companies: Allways Roofing in Snohomish and Valentine Roofing in Tukwila.

L&I said the Snohomish company was fined $425,000 for seven recent safety violations, just six months after receiving $1.2 million in fines for similar violations. The Tukwila company was fined $94,000 for four serious safety violations. Allways Roofing and Wilson Roofing have already filed appeals contesting the citations and fines, and Valentine has until Jan. 27 to seek an appeal, the state said.

"Falls are the most common cause of death in construction," said Craig Blackwood, an assistant director at L&I. "If this continues, it's just a matter of time before another injury or fatality occurs at one of these companies. L&I is working diligently to make sure that doesn't happen."