Mechanicsburg, PA– S&L Roofing, Gutters, and Siding LLC came under fire after it was discovered that the owner allowed his 12- and 14-year-old sons to work on roofs atop a Mechanicsburg apartment complex in June 2024. This dangerous decision exposed them to the construction industry’s leading cause of death: falls from heights.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, launched an investigation following a tip-off from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Inspectors found that the minors were not only at risk of falling, but were also using incorrectly set extension ladders and pneumatic nail guns – clear violations of federal safety regulations. As a result, OSHA issued S&L Roofing five safety violations, including two classified as willful, with proposed penalties amounting to $64,759.
In a press release from the Department of Labor, Kevin T. Chambers, OSHA Area Director in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, stated “Allowing children to perform roofing work is illegal and permitting them to do so without fall protection makes this case even more disturbing. Falls from heights kill hundreds of workers each year and leave many more with permanent and often disabling injuries. Once again, S&L Roofing, Gutters, and Siding is ignoring mandatory federal regulations and putting people – this time his own children – in danger.”
This isn’t the first time S&L Roofing has faced scrutiny. The company is currently in litigation with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over similar violations cited in 2023. OSHA also cited the company for serious safety violations in 2015.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 1,069 construction worker deaths in 2022, with 395 of those resulting from falls from heights. This case underscores the critical importance of adhering to safety regulations to protect workers – and in this case, even children – from preventable injuries and fatalities.
