Batavia roof fall prompts OSHA investigation

BATAVIA – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the roofing company that a man was working for when he fell 20 feet from a scaffold in Batavia last month.

The 25-year-old man had been working from a scaffold on a roof in the 200 block of South Prairie Street when he fell on March 15. Police said he was flown to an area hospital by helicopter and was later reported in stable condition.

OSHA had previously cited the company, Meco Erection Inc., of Morris, according to its online inspection records.

According to its website, Meco is a pre-engineered metal building construction contractor.

OSHA cited the company in 2016 about fall hazard risks on its aerial lift and paid a $1,540 settlement on Dec. 1, 2015, records show.

In 2018, Meco paid a settlement of $1,552 on a citation for failure to address the fall risk problem after already being cited for it. The standard required was protection for employees by personal fall arrest or guardrail systems. The workplace violation was reported in Rockford on Jan. 17, 2018, according to its website.

OSHA cited Meco on May 31, 2018 for a failure to have proper fall protection while its employees were at a house in the 600 block of North Batavia Avenue, Batavia, according to its website. The company paid a $3,880 fine, records show.

Company representatives did not return a voicemail or email messages seeking comment.