US Department of Labor, Newark roofing contractor reach settlement agreement affirming $155K penalty for multiple violations

NEWARK, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor and a Newark roofing contractor have reached a settlement agreement resolving litigation stemming from investigations last summer that found the employer repeatedly exposed workers to fall and safety hazards at two worksites. 

The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration initially investigated RRC Home Improvement Inc. in June 2024 at a worksite in Dover, New Jersey after receiving reports of employees working on a roof without fall protection. In July 2024, investigations began at RRC worksites in Lodi as part of the agency’s National Emphasis Program for Falls in Construction. Inspectors again observed employees working without required fall protection. OSHA also uncovered violations involving lack of hard hats, eye protection, and fire extinguishers, as well as non-compliant pump jack scaffold poles and unsafe ladder use.

The settlement agreement between OSHA and RRC Home Improvement affirms the citations issued after the 2024 inspections, which included four willful and seven serious violations. The company also agreed to pay a $155,000 penalty. 

As part of the settlement, the company agreed to implement enhanced abatement measures, including reporting all jobsites to OSHA before commencing work and providing OSHA with a written site-specific fall protection plan for the worksite, including certification that all employees have completed a fall protection training course.

Learn more about OSHA.