NEW CASTLE, Pa. - A federal investigation has revealed numerous child labor law violations in the case of a 17-year-old boy who fell off the roof of a New Castle business in October of 2022.

An investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor revealed that JVS Roofing, based in Jonesboro, Georgia hired the teen for roofing work, and occupation considered hazardous for minor workers by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The teen sustained minor injuries from the fall.

Additionally, investigation revealed that the company failed to provide employees with required fall protection, did not provide related training and allowed employees to work without a fall protection system in place.

"Putting a child to work on a roof is irresponsible and a violation of federal safety laws. Fall hazards are well-known by employers and they remain a leading cause of serious injury and deaths in the construction industry. There is simply no place for such reckless behavior," said Erie OSHA Area Director, Brandan Claybaugh.

The injured teen is just one of 688 minors the division found employed in hazardous occupations during investigations in 2022 alone. This is the highest annual rate count since 2011.

Further investigation revealed that the company had misclassified 30 workers as independent contractors, and by doing so, legally exempted these workers from overtime pay for hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour workweek.

The Department's Wage and Hour Division recovered $92,640 in back wages for the affected workers and has received the employer's payment of a $6,399 penalty for the child labor violation.

"In reviewing this incident, our investigators determined that the employer shortchanged workers an average of $3,000 per employee and earned overtime by misclassifying them as independent contractors," said Pittsburgh Wage and Hour Division District Director, John DuMont.

A citation pf $16,500 was also issued for the company's safety violations, which has since been paid.