STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death of a 35-year-old Staten Island man who was injured while on the job in Queens.
OSHA opened an inspection on Oct. 30, a spokesman for the agency said on Monday.
The employer is listed as Sunrise Office Services, Inc., according to the agency’s website. The website lists an address for the company in St. George.
The agency has up to six months to complete the inspection.
According to a spokesperson for the FDNY, the incident unfolded on Oct. 23 at approximately 9:45 a.m. at Roy Wilkins Recreation Center at 177-01 Baisley Blvd. in Jamaica, Queens.
Vincenzo Fortunato of Prince’s Bay was unloading Masonite boards from a truck with his work crew when several of the boards fell on top of him, according to his wife Erin Pianforte.
The spokesperson for the Fire Department said Fortunato was rushed to Queens General Hospital. According to Pianforte, he died several days later on Oct. 28 as a result of his injuries.
“Vinny sustained a fatal frontal lobe injury,” Pianforte, 37, told the Advance/SILive.com.
No charges have been filed in connection with the incident.
Messages left for Sunrise Office Services, Inc., were not returned by the time of publication.
Vincenzo Fortunato was a devoted and playful father, actively involved in playing sports, swimming, and spending quality time with his children, 10-year-old Isabella, bottom and 5-year-old Shawn, middle right, according to wife Erin Pianforte.Courtesy of Erin PianforteFamily struggling with loss
Fortunato was a devoted and playful father, said Pianforte. He enjoyed playing sports, swimming and spending quality time with his kids, 10-year-old Isabella and 5-year-old Shawn. The couple was preparing to welcome a baby boy next April.
Pianforte said the baby will be named Vincenzo Fortunato III.
“He was so happy. It was a surprise; he really wanted a boy and was overjoyed when we found out the gender,” Pianforte recalled through tears. “He was already so excited about the baby that he had started buying things for him.”
A GoFundMe page has been established, with a goal of $45,000 to help support the children’s education and provide long-term stability.
The fundraiser can be found at gofundme.com/f/wsy8rq-support-erins-family-after-tragic-loss.
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