Fines against a host of construction companies show safety often a secondary concern

Each year, more than 1,600 workers in Washington are injured due to falls, the most common cause of death in construction. Recently, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) imposed fines exceeding $500,000 on four construction companies for ongoing violations of fall protection rules. Legacy Roofing Northwest, which operates as America 1st Roofing & Builders Inc. , has a history of safety violations and faces fines totaling $207,648 for recent infractions. Other companies, like Sol Construction LLC and Modern S Construction LLC, also received hefty fines for willful violations related to fall protection.

L&I emphasizes the importance of homeowners checking contractors' safety records to avoid hiring unregistered and potentially unsafe businesses. Craig Blackwood, assistant director of L&I, stated that repeated citations indicate a deliberate disregard for worker safety. Employers must ensure workers use fall protection systems when working above four feet. L&I provides resources to help companies comply with safety regulations and encourages anonymous reporting of unsafe work practices.