BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Franklin County Construction LLC – based in New Haven, Mo. – after an employee suffered fatal fall injuries when a roof truss collapsed.

OSHA said in a release that the employee was part of a crew installing prefabricated roof trusses onto a commercial building under construction in Bowling Green, Mo.

OSHA investigated the site on Oct. 1, 2018, and cited the company for one repeat violation for failing to ensure anchorage points and five serious safety violations for failing to protect workers from structural collapse and fall hazards.

The citation identifies 60 prefabricated roof trusses, each 57 feet wide as the primary problem due to “inadequate bracing.”

The company faces proposed penalties of $56,910.

“Falls are the leading cause of death for construction workers but they can be prevented when required safety measures are taken,” said St. Louis OSHA Area Director Bill McDonald. “It is vital that employers develop and implement safety procedures to ensure that employees are properly protected from collapse, and crews are trained in recognizing and evaluating fall and struck-by hazards.”

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

As Roofing Contractor reported in December, citations related to fall protection topped the agency’s list of most frequent for 2018.