Oregon OSHA Fines Bend Contractor $103K for Repeated Fall Protection Violations

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division fined a Bend construction company $103,438 for repeatedly violating a requirement to provide protective systems to safeguard workers from fall hazards.

The division cited Sky Ridge Construction LLC following an inspection that focused on a job site where work was being done on new houses. The inspection was conducted under Oregon OSHA’s prevention-based emphasis program addressing fall hazards in all industries.

The inspection reportedly found multiple employees working on a roof without fall protection in which they were exposed to a potential fall of 18 feet to the ground. Employers are required to ensure that fall protection systems are provided, installed, and implemented where employees are exposed to a hazard of falling 6 feet or more to a lower level.

During the inspection, the company corrected the violation identified by Oregon OSHA. It was the third time since January 2022 that Sky Ridge Construction violated fall protection requirements. Because of the repeat offenses, the penalty for the violation was multiplied, with Oregon OSHA imposing a $103,438 penalty.

Employers have 30 calendar days after receiving a citation to file an appeal.