An Everett, Wash., construction company with a history of safety violations is facing fines of more than $230,000 after inspections at two Seattle job sites reportedly found numerous problems that placed workers at significant risk.

Chilos Builders LLC was recently cited for eight safety violations, including exposing employees to fall hazards while working two and three stories above ground.

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries issued the citations for violations at job sites in the Georgetown and Ballard neighborhoods in Seattle.

As a result of these recent violations, L&I has designated the framing contractor a severe violator. That means inspectors will continue to inspect the company’s work sites until the unsafe conditions no longer exist.

Apart from the two most recent inspections, L&I has inspected Chilos Builders under its current name and a previous name five times since 2016. Each of those inspections resulted in L&I citing the company for safety issues including fall violations. Chilos has appealed the citations from one of the inspections in 2018.

Chilos Builders, owned by Ana Iglesias and managed by Cecilio Solorio, has reported 30 worker injuries under the two companies since 2016. The injuries include three caused by workers falling from heights of 8 to 15 feet. The claims have cost the workers’ compensation system more than $280,000 in medical treatment and related services.

The most recent safety violations reportedly occurred in April when the company was helping build new apartments in Georgetown. Inspectors found inadequate safety rails on the roof, where six of the company’s framers were working just over 28 feet above ground.

Two of the citations were considered willful, including one for failing to install fall protection on window and door openings on the three-story building. Inspectors saw at least two workers on the second floor and one worker on the third floor exposed to the potential fall hazards.

insurancejournal.com