Homebuilders balk at new federal roofer safety rules

Some Pittsburgh homebuilders say enforcement of new federal rules to prevent workers from being injured when working on roofs could add significant cost to new house construction.

Homebuilders nationally are upset about what they view as draconian penalties for violating the rules, up to $7,000 per worker on the job for a violation considered as serious.

Their complaints are drawing attention in Congress, which has been examining regulations from the Obama administration. Intervention by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to ease up temporarily on enforcement of the rules across the country and offer more cooperation in complying.

"It just didn't pass the common sense test that we should be coming in with really aggressive, overbearing kind of regulations on this particular industry that is on the ropes right now," McCaskill said.

David Bachman of Bachman Builders Inc. of Coraopolis said, "It costs between $2,000 and $5,000 just to purchase the harness equipment required to protect the worker." And while that initial cost is divided among a number of homes built, Bachman said, not included is the additional cost of training workers and maintaining the equipment.

The residential fall protection directive, as it is called, went into effect Sept. 15 after being on hold since the Clinton administration. OSHA officials say advances in technology led to the decision to end what amounted to a 17-year exemption for residential contractors. The government's safety agency points out that homebuilders initially went along with the change.

OSHA describes a compelling need to address the biggest cause of fatalities in the homebuilding business. In the past five years, falls claimed the lives of 632 workers in the residential construction industry, according to a government tally.

"It's no secret to anyone that the housing industry is depressed. But that's really no excuse for more workers to die," said Jordan Barab, a deputy assistant secretary in the Labor Department.

Barab noted that worker harnesses available for as little as $100 can help comply with rules.

"Will it take a little more time? In some cases, yes. A little more expense? Yes, in some cases. But we're talking not only about saving lives but protecting workers from serious injuries that can have lifelong consequences," he said.

Pittsburgh area builders said protecting the safety of their workers or subcontractors is paramount, but they are unsure what will be required of them under the OSHA directive.

Those affected by the rules will include roofers, painters and framers, said Jim Eichenlaub, executive director of the Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh. Although some states have rules governing this type of regulation, Pennsylvania does not, he noted.

"We are letting the leadership of our national organization, the National Association of Home Builders, handle our concerns about the guidelines, but the safety of our workers is our goal," he said.

The association has scheduled a training session on the OSHA guidelines for Nov. 17 in Cranberry. Eichenlaub expects about 50 people to attend.

"We don't want our members to ignore these regulations, but we do want them to understand them," he said.

"Builders can't afford to have their jobs shut down because of the new regulations, that's why it's important they understand the guidelines," he added.

Some homebuilders, like Kacin Companies Inc. of Murrysville, subcontract roofing work.

"We insist that the subcontractor follow safety rules for its employees, that they use harnesses for protection. And we have regular safety meetings with them," said Bruce Corna, Kacin vice president.

Source: TribLive Business