The companies were cited $159,118. Both companies are cited as a single employer because they shared supervision on the same worksite.

“Employers have a legal duty to ensure that their employees are protected at all times,” said OSHA Area Director Ramona Morris in Birmingham, Ala. “This responsibility includes providing appropriate training and conducting assessments to make sure workers understand hazards, and supplying fall protection to minimize the risk of serious or fatal injuries.”

The name of the deceased worker has not been released due to his age. The victim was described by police as a teenage boy from Guatemala living in Alabama. On July 1, 2019, the teenager was on his first day on the job when he fell 40 feet through an unsupported section of the roof of a factory. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, police said there was safety equipment at the job site, but it was not in use.

The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is also investigating the employers for child labor provision violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

View the full citation here.