A federal court recently sentenced roofing contractor Christopher Franc to three years probation and six months house arrest after willfully committing safety violations and endangering his workers.  He was also fined $539,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Last year, one of Franc’s roofers, 29-year old Carl Beck, died when he fell from a steep roof while not using any safety gear.  Investigators found that Franc did not provide fall-protection equipment to employees and failed to appropriately train new employees.

Head of OSHA Dr. David Michaels believes that existing laws are not tough enough on willfully negligent employers who cause injuries in their employees, like Franc.  Now, Michaels is promoting the Protecting America’s Workers Act, or PAWA, that would sentence negligent employers to up to twenty years in prison.  PAWA would also increase fines against willful violators and strengthen whistleblower protections.