By: Najla Alexander
NJ AG authorities announced that a construction company based in Old Bridge, New Jersey, admitted violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, leading to the death of an employee.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said that Zona Roofing LLC (Zona Roofing), via its owner Yilbert Segura, pleaded guilty on November 20, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court to an information charging it with one count of willfully violating OSHA standards by failing to provide fall protection and fall protection training to employees engaged in the replacement of a residential roof, which caused the death of an employee.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Officials stated that on August 6, 2019, Segura and four employees began a roof replacement project on a residential home located in Haledon, New Jersey.
Despite working more than 20 feet from the ground, employees for Zona Roofing were not equipped with any personal fall protection equipment, such as safety harnesses, lanyards, tie-off ropes, guard rails, safety nets, or other feasible means of fall protection, officials said.
Authorities say none of the employees had received fall protection training to recognize the hazards of falling or the procedures to be followed to minimize those hazards.
Officials said on August 8, 2019, while working on the roof, one of Zona Roofing’s employees lost his balance and fell approximately 22 feet to the ground, sustaining blunt force injuries to his head that resulted in his death.
According to officials, the employee was not equipped with any fall protection gear and had not received any fall protection training.
Maryland OSHA previously cited Zona Roofing in February 2019 for failing to provide fall protection to its employees, officials stated.
If the court accepts the terms of the plea agreement, officials say, Zona Roofing will be sentenced to five years of probation and will pay restitution of $75,000 to the employee’s family members.
Officials said Zona Roofing must also follow specified conditions, including providing training procedures to all its employees and a requirement to follow enhanced safety provisions for future construction jobs.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 25, 2024, officials stated.