A federal workplace safety investigation has found a Chicago-area carpentry contractor, with a history of neglecting safety regulations, has failed to protect its employees from potentially fatal hazards.
Dromin Development LLC: A History of Violations
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Dromin Development LLC for the seventh time since 2013. The contractor, based in Palos Park, Illinois, was found to have ignored essential safety regulations during the construction of a new home in Frankfort, Illinois.
OSHA’s findings revealed the company did not provide the necessary safety equipment and training to its employees, leading to significant safety risks on the job site.
March 2024 Inspection Findings
During the March 2024 inspection in Frankfort, OSHA inspectors discovered Dromin Development allowed its employees to work at heights exceeding six feet without proper fall protection. The company also failed to provide adequate training on fall protection measures and the correct operation of forklifts. Other violations included the improper use of ladders and the failure of workers to wear hard hats, which are critical to preventing head injuries on construction sites.
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OSHA Citations and Penalties
OSHA has cited Dromin Development LLC for several violations, including two repeat violations, one willful violation, one serious violation, and one other-than-serious violation. In response to these findings, OSHA has proposed penalties totaling $268,309. This is in addition to the more than $114,000 in unpaid penalties the company currently owes for similar violations in the past.
The Importance of Fall Protection
OSHA’s Chicago South Area Director, James Martineck, in Tinley Park, Illinois, said:
“Each year, hundreds of workers die in preventable falls. Ensuring that workers use fall protection whenever they work at heights of six feet or more can mean the difference between life and death”
“OSHA remains committed to working with the construction industry to mitigate this deadly hazard and will continue to hold employers accountable when they fail to provide safe working conditions.”
Next Steps for Dromin Development LLC
Dromin Development LLC has 15 business days from the receipt of its citations and penalties to take action. The company can choose to comply with the regulations, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
