Medford Roofing Company Fined Over $100K For Repeated OSHA Violations

MEDFORD, Ore. — JAM Construction Inc., a Medford-based roofing company cited for repeated violations related to fall protection, has been issued a $103,438 fine by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA).

The penalty was imposed after an inspection at a Central Point job site, where workers without adequate safety measures were potentially risked falls of up to 13 feet.

OSHA Fall Protection

The OHSA inspection in Central Point exposed that the required fall protection systems for employees working on the roof of a house were not installed or implemented. This violates state regulations as Oregon OSHA’s standards require that when employees are exposed to a fall hazard of six feet or more, employers must ensure that fall protection is in place.

The significance of fall protection in the construction industry was emphasized by Oregon OSHA Administrator Renée Stapleton as falls are a leading cause of worker fatalities in the industry. Stapelton said that employers who direct workers to do job tasks at heights must ensure those workers are protected against fall hazards.

Stapleton also confirmed that repeated failures to prioritize worker safety significantly heighten the risk of serious injury or death. She said, “It is a requirement, not an option.”

Medford Firm Fined For OSHA Violations

JAM Construction corrected the identified fall protection violation during the inspection. Although the total penalty levied included a standard reduction based on the firm’s size, penalties increased under Oregon OSHA’s rules for repeat offenses.

The Oregon Safe Employment Act guarantees workers the right to a safe and healthy workplace and employers are obliged to maintain these conditions.  The enforcement of these regulations is part of the Act.

Since April 2022, JAM Construction has been cited for three similar violations and the amount of the penalty reflects the repeated nature of violations. The company was also issued an “other-than-serious” citation as they failed to produce documents to prove employees had received fall protection training.

The company has 30 calendar days from the date the citation was issued to file an appeal.