A.W. Stiles Contractors Inc.
Outcome
A.W. Stiles Contractors Inc. was cited on a per-instance basis for fall protection violations and fined $83,885 after a worker died and three additional workers were exposed to 23-foot fall hazards while replacing a standing seam roof at a worksite in Smyrna, New York in 2024.
Details
A.W. Stiles Contractors Inc. — Fatal Roof Fall, Per-Instance Citations, New York (2024)
Outcome: One worker died and three were exposed to 23-foot fall hazards on a Smyrna, New York roof replacement project; OSHA cited A.W. Stiles Contractors Inc. on a per-instance basis for fall protection failures and proposed $83,885 in penalties.
A.W. Stiles Contractors Inc., a McMinnville, Tennessee contractor, was performing aluminum standing seam roof replacement work at a worksite in Smyrna, Chenango County, New York. During the project, a worker died from a fall. Three additional workers were found exposed to fall hazards from heights of approximately 23 feet without adequate protection.
OSHA's investigation found the contractor failed to provide fall protection equipment, failed to train workers on fall hazards and the use of personal fall arrest systems, failed to install fall protection systems under qualified supervision, and failed to evaluate and provide appropriate medical clearance for respirator users. OSHA chose to cite the company on an instance-by-instance (egregious) basis — one citation per exposed worker rather than one citation per worksite — reflecting the agency's determination that A.W. Stiles had "chosen to ignore federal standards" with full awareness. The proposed penalty was $83,885.
Primary Source: US Department of Labor cites Tennessee contractor for fatal fall hazards at Chenango County roof replacement project
How Crucible Prevents This
OSHA's decision to cite A.W. Stiles on an instance-by-instance (egregious) basis — one citation per exposed worker rather than per worksite — reflects the agency's use of enhanced penalty authority against employers who knowingly expose multiple workers to fall hazards simultaneously. A Crucible pre-work session gate requiring documented fall protection plans and confirmed equipment availability for each worker on the crew before any roof access is permitted would address the systemic absence of protection that generated the per-worker citation here.
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