Companies Face Fines in Viking Stadium Roofing Accident

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Two companies working on the Minnesota Vikings' new stadium face fines of $173,400 for safety violations in the death of one worker and injury to another last August.

U.S. Bank Stadium contractor Mortenson Construction and subcontractor Berwald Roofing were cited after an investigation by the state Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The reports don't provide an explanation of the accidents, but the most serious alleged violation accuses Berwald of willfully failing to have workers use proper fall protection while working at heights above 6 feet.

A previous report says two roofers, both Berwald employees, slid and fell while installing a roof last August. The Star Tribune reports that 35-year-old Jeramie Gruber of Faribault died and an unidentified worker was seriously injured.

The newspaper's attempts to reach Berwald were unsuccessful.

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