A Wisconsin roofing contractor is facing more than $262,000 in proposed penalties after federal inspectors found workers exposed to fall hazards at a residential job site in Appleton in September 2024.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Bacilio Rios Almanza for two willful and one serious violation, including failing to provide fall protection, not training employees on its use, and not ensuring workers wore hard hats.
Repeat offenses across multiple inspections
OSHA said it has inspected Almanza’s job sites 10 times and cited the contractor repeatedly for similar violations. The agency considers fall protection a critical safety requirement, particularly in roofing and residential construction work where falls remain a leading cause of death.
“Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure their workers are protected from known hazards, and this contractor has shown a continued disregard for those obligations,” said OSHA officials.
Almanza has 15 business days from receiving the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Fall protection remains top priority
Federal safety officials continue to urge construction employers to prioritize fall hazard training and equipment. Under OSHA regulations, fall protection is required for workers operating at heights of six feet or more in the construction industry.
