Allways Roofing’s safety violation fines are topping $3 million, according to the Department of Labor and Industries
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Snohomish County-based Allways Roofing has amassed more than $3 million in safety violations filed by the state’s Department of Labor and Industries.
The agency said inspectors have witnessed the company’s employees violating state safety regulations dozens of times in the past ten years.
According to complaints filed by the state, workers routinely work without wearing proper fall prevention gear and eye protection, safety plans are not posted at worksites, and crews are not receiving proper workplace safety training.
“It is a unique situation,” said Bruce Christian, Labor & Industries’ statewide compliance manager for the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, “I’ve been in compliance for 23 years and I’ve never seen this particular situation before.”
He said the company has only paid about $250,000 of the fines.
“It’s very frustrating,” said Christian.
One of the workplace violations resulted in more than half a million in fines.
Christian said the state started raising the fine amounts based on the company’s repeat violations, pointing the liability to Allways Roofing’s owner, Rich Ovak.
”We do the inspections, we provide education and the information they need to protect their employees,” said Christian, “for whatever reason, and we don’t know what reason that is, he (Ovak) is not requiring his employees to use the appropriate fall protection.”
In response, Ovak said he is being bullied by the state and does not know why, stating the fines will likely put him out of business soon.
“I can’t afford $3 million,” said Ovak.
He blamed his employees for failing to follow their training and said the employees should fined instead, “Other than firing these guys and training them, what are you supposed to do?”
However, Christian said there’s a reason the state fines the employers, not the employees.
”It is the employer’s responsibility to provide a safe workplace for their employees. They control the checkbook, they have the power, that is the responsibility of the employer,” said Christian.
He said the state is not targeting Allways Roofing, “We simply don’t want to get the phone call where someone from Allways Roofing has fallen off a roof and is mysteriously injured or killed.”
He recommends people go to the state’s website, protectmyhome.net, to verify the status of a contractor before hiring anyone.
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