A Chicago-area framing contractor, KW Framing Inc., is under intense scrutiny for repeatedly exposing its employees to life-threatening fall hazards. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has conducted multiple investigations, revealing a blatant disregard for worker safety protocols and defiance towards federal regulations. Despite already owing over $100,000 in fines from violations identified in 2022, KW Framing now faces an additional $317,644 in penalties due to new violations discovered this year.
Repeated Violations and Escalating Fines
On January 29, 2024, OSHA inspectors observed employees of KW Framing working at dangerous heights of up to 30 feet without any fall protection at a residential construction site on North 80th Street in River Grove, Illinois. The workers were erecting exterior walls on two to three-story structures, clearly without the mandated safety equipment. OSHA inspectors reminded the employer, Wojciech Knapczyk, of his responsibility to ensure worker safety.
When inspectors returned on February 9 and February 12, they found the same hazardous conditions. Workers were setting joists and trusses without any fall protection. Knapczyk dismissed OSHA’s concerns, continuing to neglect the essential safety measures.
The pattern of negligence persisted. On May 7, 2024, another inspection at a different KW Framing worksite within the same residential development revealed workers sheathing a roof over 30 feet high without required fall protection.
Serious and Willful Violations
As a consequence of the January and May inspections, OSHA cited KW Framing with multiple violations. These include one repeat violation for failing to provide eye protection, two willful citations for not implementing fall protection, and four serious violations. The serious violations involved not having guardrails or stair rails, improper use of ladders, failing to ensure employees wore head protection, and not maintaining records or certification that employees received fall protection training. Additionally, two other-than-serious violations were noted.
“By refusing to comply with federal safety regulations and dismissing the concerns of OSHA inspectors, KW Framing is putting the lives of its employees in jeopardy,” stated Sukhvir Kaur, OSHA’s Chicago North Area Director. “Falls from elevation are the leading cause of work-related deaths in the construction industry, and yet this company is more concerned about profit than its workers’ well-being.”
Ongoing Non-compliance and Debt Collection
To date, KW Framing has not responded to OSHA’s 2022 citations nor made any effort to pay the $117,843 in assessed penalties. This has led the Department of Labor to pursue debt collection measures. Kaur emphasized that ignoring OSHA’s regulations will not absolve the company of its legal responsibilities to provide a safe working environment. The Department of Labor is committed to holding KW Framing and its management accountable through all possible means.
The Deadly Reality of Falls in Construction
The statistics are grim. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022, 1,056 construction workers lost their lives on the job, with 423 of those deaths resulting from falls from elevation, slips, or trips. This highlights the critical importance of strict adherence to safety regulations in the construction industry.
Resources for Fall Prevention
OSHA offers a range of resources to educate workers and employers about fall hazards and proper safety procedures. Their Stop Falls website provides safety information and video presentations in both English and Spanish.
For more information about OSHA and their safety regulations, visit the OSHA website.
