The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration

has cited Bosco Custom Homes, Inc. for 30 safety and health violations. These violations

include seven repeat, three willful, and 20 serious safety violations. They come in response to

observations performed by inspectors in April and June of 2014 of construction sites in Elgin and

Wheaton, Ill. These violations carry proposed penalties of $174,240.

“Bosco Custom Homes has failed to fix safety hazards related to falls. This shows an inexcusable

and deliberate lack of care for the safety and health of the company’s employees,” said Jake

Scott, OSHA’s area director in North Aurora. “Falls remain the leading cause of death in the

construction industry, and allowing construction workers to be exposed to fall hazards without

fall protection is unacceptable.”

Bosco Custom Homes was cited for one willful violation for failing to provide fall protection

at each of these work sites. It was also cited for seven repeat violations for failing to provide

protective helmets and/or fall protection training and for improper use of an extension ladder.

Additionally, Bosco Custom Homes was cited for 20 serious violations that exposed workers to

scaffold hazards, struck-by and electrical hazards.

If you are ever audited by OSHA, or if you have been in the past, it is important to correct the

hazards uncovered. OSHA inspectors have very little patience for repeat offenders, and that

is where you can see penalties get out of hand. And if OSHA has been to your facility once,

you can be sure they will be back to check on you. For that reason, we recommend you always

hire a third party occupational safety and health auditing firm to help rewrite your policies and

procedures, so that there are no repeat violations on your next inspection.

If you have any questions about this case or about establishing adequate safety and health

procedures, please contact us. If you have anything to add about the need for third party safety

audits, please leave a comment.