Gabriel House in Fall River receives nearly $200,000 in penalties from OSHA resulting from 13 citations; here are the details

Gabriel House in Fall River has been penalized nearly $200,000 by OSHA after a fatal fire that claimed 10 lives on July 13th.

OSHA has released that they have issued 13 citations, 11 of which are serious, to Gabriel Care Inc. at 261 Oliver Street in the amount of $186,778.

The citations, the penalties, and the descriptions are as follows:

Petition 1: Penalty $16,550

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): 29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that all places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition. Location: Worksite Instance 1: On or about July 13, 2025, E-Wing/F-Wing south side door there were four forty pound bags of topsoil, spilled topsoil, boxes, miscellaneous items, and debris were on the floors, in common areas, storage rooms, and offices exposing employees to trip and fall hazards. Instance 2: On or about July 13, 2025, the Elevator Machine Room, which was marked Not For Storage contained mattresses, rugs, a metal cabinet and stacked miscellaneous items, exposing employees to struck-by, trip and fall hazards. Instance 3: On or about July 13, 2025, in the B Wing’s electrical panel there were dead mice, exposing employees to diseases associated with exposure to rodents. Instance 4: On or about July 13, 2025, in Room B-19 Boxes were blocking the entrance and stacked leaning exposing employees to struck-by hazards. Instance 5: On or about July 13, 2025, in Room B-3 furniture was on the floor exposing employees to trips and falls, and the furniture was stacked and leaning exposing employees to struck-by hazards. Instance 6: On or about July 13, 2025, in Room B-5 furniture and boxes on floor exposing employees to trips and falls, and furniture was stacked and boxes were leaning exposing employees to struck-by hazards. Instance 7: On or about July 13, 2025, in Room B-8 a rolling cart with cleaners blocking the entrance, and furniture was on the floor exposing employees to trips and falls.

Petition 2: Penalty $16,550

29 CFR 1910.25(b)(3):29 CFR 1910.25(b)(3) The employer did not ensure that stairs have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings. Location: Worksite On or about July 13, 2025, the D-Wing/F-Wing exterior stairs did not have uniform riser heights, exposing employees to trips and falls.

Petition 3: Penalty $16,550

29 CFR 1910.25(c)(2):29 CFR 1910.25(c)(2): The employer did not ensure that standard stairs have a maximum riser height of 9.5 inches (24 cm). Location: Worksite On or about July 13, 2025, employees were exposed to fall hazards due to the top riser from the landing being 10.5 inches

Petition 4: Penalty $16,550

29 CFR 1910.36(g)(2):Exit access(es) were not at least 28 inches (71.1 cm) wide at all points. Location: Worksite On or about July 13, 2025, the D/E ramp was blocked by a chair and branches from a willow tree exposing employees to trip and fall hazards.

Petition 5: Penalty $16,550

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2):Each exit was not clearly visible and marked by a sign reading “Exit”: Location: Worksite Instance 1: On or about, July 13, 2025, a D-Wing north door was not marked by a sign that read exit, exposing employees to injury in the event of an emergency evacuation. Instance 2: On or about, July 13, 2025, Kitchen double doors were not marked by a sign that read exit, exposing employees to injury in the event of an emergency evacuation. Instance 3: On or about, July 13, 2025, Dining Room double doors were not marked by a sign that read exit, exposing employees to injury in the event of an emergency evacuation. Instance 4: On or about, July 13, 2025, a Dining Room west side door was not marked by a sign that read exit, exposing employees to injury in the event of an emergency evacuation. Instance 5: On or about, July 13, 2025, a B-Wing south side door was not marked by a sign that read exit, exposing employees to injury in the event of an emergency evacuation. Instance 6: On or about, July 13, 2025, an A-Wing south side door was not marked by a sign that read exit, exposing employees to injury in the event of an emergency evacuation. Instance 7: On or about, July 13, 2025, the E-Wing/F-Wing hallway’s south side door was not marked by a sign that read exit, exposing employees to injury in the event of an emergency evacuation. Instance 8: On or about, July 13, 2025, the C-Wing/D-Wing hallway’s front lobby’s double doors were not was not marked by a sign that read exit, exposing employees to injury in the event of an emergency evacuation.

Petition 6: Penalty $16,550

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(5):Each doorway or passage along an exit access that could be mistaken for an exit was not marked “Not an Exit” or similar designation, or be identified by a sign indicating its actual use (e.g. closet): Location: Worksite Instance 1: On or about July 13, 2025, a B-Wing Chapel’s south side door leading to a roof was not marked, Not an Exit, exposing employees to injuries in the event of an emergency evacuation. Instance 2: On or about July 13, 2025, a double doors in the kitchen were not marked, Not an Exit, exposing employees to injuries in the event of an emergency evacuation. Instance 3: On or about July 13, 2025, a door in the corridor between the E-Wing and F-Wing that was labeled Boiler Room, was not marked Not an Exit, exposing employees to injuries in the event of an emergency evacuation. Instance 4: On or about July 13, 2025, a door in the corridor between the E-Wing and F-Wing that was labeled Elevator Machine Room, was not marked Not an Exit, exposing employees to injuries in the event of an emergency evacuation.

Petition 7: Penalty $16,550

29 CFR 1910.38(e):29 CFR 1910.38(e): The employer did not train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees. Location: Worksite On or about July 13, 2025, employees were not trained in how to assist other employees in the safe and orderly evacuation of other employees from the facility in the event of an emergency, exposing the employees to injury and death.

Petition 8: Penalty $16,550

29 CFR 1910.39(d):The employer did not inform employees upon initial assignment to a job of the fire hazards to which they are exposed. The employer did not review with each employee those parts of the fire prevention plan necessary for self-protection, including evacuation drills. Location: Worksite On or about July 13, 2025, the employer did not review with each employee the company’s fire prevention plan which is necessary for self-protection, exposing the employees to burns, smoke inhalation, and death.

Petition 9: Penalty $16,550

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(1):Each disconnecting means required by Subpart S of Part 1910 for motors and appliances was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged so the purpose was evident: Location: Worksite On or about July 13, 2013, an electrical panel in the B-Wing was not marked to indicate each switch’s purpose exposing employees to electrical shock while working on a circuit connected to the electrical panel.

Petition 10: Penalty $16,550

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i):Except as elsewhere required or permitted by Subpart S of Part 1910, live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more were not guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the means identified in paragraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i): Location: Worksite On or about July 13, 2025, exposed wires in the Elevator Machine Room, were not guarded by an electrical panel exposing employees to electric shock and electrocution.

Petition 11: Penalty $16,550

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met: Location: Worksite Instance 1: Maintenance Room: On or about July 1, 2025, employees were exposed to unmarked white plastic spray bottle containing a yellow liquid on a rolling cart, 440 ounces of highly flammable Tru Fuel 50:1 ratio Engine fuel oil, 110-ounce highly flammable VP 4-cycle small engine fuel, varnish, assorted paints and paint thinners stacked on shelves that can be harmful or fatal if combusted, inhaled or swallowed, where the employer did not have a written hazard communication program. Instance 2: Room F-13: On or about July 1, 2025, employees were exposed to highly flammable fuel in the Toro fuel powered snow blower’s tank, and highly flammable fuel in the Poulan fuel powered snow blower’s tank, where the employer did not have a written hazard communication program.

Petition 12: Penalty $2,364

29 CFR 1904.32(b)(3):29 CFR 1904.32(b)(3): The Summary of Work-Related Injury and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300A or equivalent) was not properly certified: On or about August 13, 2025, the Gabriel Care, Inc’s 2020, 2022, and 2023 OSHA Logs received by OSHA were not signed by the company executive.

Petition 13: Penalty $2,364

29 CFR 1904.40(a):The employer did not provide an authorized government representative the records within the four business hours. On or about August 13, 2025, the employer did not provide OSHA the 2021, 2024 and 2025 OSHA Logs within four hours of OSHA’s request.