Workers from a North St. Paul-based roofing company will return to their work at the U.S. Bank Stadium project in Minneapolis on Friday.
MPR News reports the resumption of work comes more than two weeks after the death of Jeramie Gruber, 35, of Northfield. Gruber and another co-worker, who was injured, were employed by Berwald Roofing and Sheet Metal Co.
On August 26, Gruber slid down the stadium roof, broke through a guardrail and fell onto an elevated platform.
An OSHA report said the other worker also slid, but survived after he struck a post, which stopped his fall.
“It is with heavy hearts that Berwald Roofing staff will resume construction tomorrow Friday, Sept. 11 on the US Bank Stadium,” said a statement from the company. “After a review of the roofing conditions, Berwald Roofing, in cooperation with Mortenson Construction and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, has been cleared to continue installing the stadium’s roofing system.”
Berwald Roofing employees returning to work Fri., wearing decal in memory of colleague, friend http://t.co/rq4dn1J2fM pic.twitter.com/CSV0kU68nj
— KSTP (@KSTP) September 10, 2015
KSTP said Berwald Roofing is “continuing to cooperate with investigators as they work to determine the cause of the incident.”
The station reports that Berwald Roofing employees will honor Gruber when they return to the stadium. They will wear a decal on their hard hats that reads “Forever Our Brother.” It features images of a bear, fish and bow hunter to note Gruber’s love of the outdoors.
The Minnesota Vikings wore a sticker with Guber’s initials on their helmets when they played the Dallas Cowboys immediately after the fatal accident.
