OSHA cites gutter cleaning company, proposes $108K in penalties

A Fairfield gutter and roof cleaning company has been cited for allegedly failing to protect workers from falls, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning and General Contracting Inc. was cited for two repeat and four serious violations after May and October inspections at a pair of worksites, in Ridgewood and Carlstadt. The inspections found employees working from heights without fall protection, for which the company had been cited in 2013 and 2014, OSHA said.

“Ned Stevens was previously cited for allowing employees to work on roofs without fall protection,” Lisa Levy, director of OSHA’s Hasbrouck Heights Area Office, said in a prepared statement. “This company has once again jeopardized worker safety by failing to provide the appropriate equipment to prevent injuries and save lives, which is intolerable.”

In addition, workers were exposed to electrical hazards and lacked eye and face protection, among other violations.

OSHA proposed $108,200 in penalties for the violations.

“The fall season is a busy time for gutter cleaning,” Levy said. “It is crucial for Ned Stevens to acknowledge its responsibility to ensure a safe and healthful workplace, or be prepared to be held legally responsible for failing to do so.”

Ned Stevens had 15 days from receipt of the citations to accept or contest them, or request a meeting with OSHA officials.