Subcontractor In Fatal Stadium Accident Has Past Safety Citations
MINNEAPOLIS (AP/WCCO) -- Records show a subcontractor involved in a fatal accident at the Minnesota Viking stadium construction site has received numerous citations for violating safety standards at its worksites.
Berwald Roofing Co. has a $3.4 million contract for work at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. On Wednesday one of its employees was killed and another was injured at the construction site.
Public records show Berwald has received nine worksite citations for serious violations in the past five years -- many for workers failing to use safety harnesses.
One of the owners, Eugene Berwald, says the company stresses safety, but can't always control its workers' actions, including failing to hook up their harnesses. Berwald says he doesn't know if the employee who died, Jeramie Gruber, was wearing a safety lanyard.
Work at the U.S. Bank Stadium site resumed Thursday morning. In a statement, Mortenson Construction said: "We are working with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to investigate the circumstances following yesterday's tragic incident. Mortenson is also providing resources and counselors on site for workers and will continue to make these resources available for as long as they are needed."
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