The U.S. Department of Labor has cited the Salvation Army after a 54-year-old maintenance worker died from a fall while repairing a roof leak at one of its Orlando donation centres in November 2024.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the incident occurred on Nov. 7. The organization was cited for a repeat violation involving failure to protect workers from fall hazards—a similar citation had previously been issued following an inspection at a Salvation Army facility in Princeton, West Virginia, in January 2020.
Multiple safety failures cited
In addition to the repeat violation, OSHA cited the Salvation Army for five serious infractions, including failure to assess workplace hazards, provide required fall protection training, and ensure appropriate machine guarding.
The agency also issued two other-than-serious violations: not reporting the fatality to OSHA within the required eight-hour window and lacking a hazard communication program.
In total, the Salvation Army faces $120,817 in penalties.
Resources for prevention
OSHA reiterated the importance of proper fall protection and encouraged employers to access its fall prevention campaign materials. The agency provides free resources and compliance assistance to help employers meet safety standards and protect workers.
Employers are reminded that fall-related incidents remain one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and that compliance with established safety practices is essential to preventing further loss of life.
