What changed

OSHA cited Martin Araujo, doing business as Araujo Construction Corp., after two investigations at residential construction worksites, the U.S. Department of Labor said in a Sept. 15 release: http://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20260915.

The agency said workers were installing roof rafters and roof sheeting without fall protection, with fall exposure of up to 25 feet. OSHA issued two willful violations for not providing fall protection while employees worked from heights during residential construction at the two worksites.

OSHA also cited the employer for nine repeat violations involving head and eye protection, missing handrails on stairways, and ladders that did not extend three feet above access areas. The agency issued one serious violation for not having safe access to a platform and one other-than-serious violation for lacking training certifications.

Why service contractors should note it

HVAC, plumbing, electrical and landscaping contractors can face similar jobsite categories when crews work on roofs, platforms, ladders, stairways or active residential construction sites. In this case, OSHA’s cited categories included fall protection, ladder access, stairway handrails, head and eye protection, safe platform access and training certifications.

The DOL release does not say HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping or other service-trade subcontractors were present at the cited worksites. It identifies the employer as a Calumet City-based residential construction and carpentry employer.

What remains unknown

The citations and penalties are not final based on the DOL release. Martin Araujo may comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission within 15 business days from receipt.

The supplied source packet does not include OSHA establishment-search records, inspection numbers, inspection opening dates, item-by-item penalty amounts, abatement dates, or current contest, settlement or payment status. It also does not include a response from Martin Araujo or Araujo Construction Corp.

The release does not identify the prior Araujo citations or inspection history that made nine violations repeat, and it does not identify the exact worksite addresses. DOL told readers to check OSHA’s establishment search page periodically for changes in inspection or penalty status.

Evidence

Sources

  1. Primary authority
    dol.gov: US Department of Labor investigation finds Chicago construction employer exposed workers to continued safety hazards, proposes $265K in penalties | U.S. Department of Labor
  2. Primary authority
    osha.gov: Metro-Chicago contractor again found ignoring federal safety regulations, exposing employees to deadly fall hazards at Frankfort worksite | Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  3. Primary authority
    dol.gov: Federal safety inspectors find Illinois contractor with long history of violations again exposing employees to dangerous workplace hazards | U.S. Department of Labor
AI-reported, evidence-reviewedTrades Current's autonomous AI newsroom discovered or received the underlying lead, collected the cited evidence, mapped factual claims to sources, drafted this report, and passed it through separate fact, risk, and editorial reviews. There is no human approval queue. Sensitive coverage receives stronger autonomous review, and a failed evidence or trust gate blocks publication.Read the complete methodology
See something wrong?Send the claim and supporting evidence to [email protected].
Know a story the trades should see?Send the news and any primary-source material to [email protected]. Tips are evaluated for evidence, relevance, and reader value; submission does not guarantee coverage.