CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The popular Charlotte brewery Wooden Robot is being fined $2,000 by the North Carolina Department of Labor.
The department said Wooden Robot Brewery failed to protect its employees. This fine comes after the death of the brewery's co-founder Dan Wade who died after falling through a skylight at the brewery's South End location in February.
"The employer did not ensure employees were protected from falling through any hole (including skylights) that were 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level by one or more of the following: covers; guardrail systems; travel restraint systems; or personal fall arrest systems: facility, where employees accessing the roof to perform maintenance activities were not protected from falling through skylights by covers, guardrail systems, travel restraint systems, or personal fall arrest systems and exposed to an 18'8" fall hazard to the concrete floor below."
The department qualified that this fine is in "no way designed to make up for the loss of life."
"By law, the civil money penalties collected by the N.C. Department of Labor are not receipts of the department, but rather must be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund, which then distributes the monies to the public school system," the department notes.
Wade founded Wooden Robot with his best friend Josh Patton in 2015. News of his death shook supporters, as well as other Charlotte brewers who were inspired by Wade.
"A lot of breweries do owe their success to him specifically," Brad Maas, a brewer at Suffolk Punch, said. "Dan was a big part in crafting what the Charlotte brewery scene is today."
WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com.
Wooden Robot started a GoFundMe for Wade's wife and newborn son. Wade was also an uncle to six nieces and nephews and a dedicated rescue dog dad. The GoFundMe has raised over $230,000.
WCNC Charlotte's Where's The Money series is all about leveling the playing field in the Carolinas by helping others and breaking down barriers. WCNC Charlotte doesn't want our viewers to be taken advantage of, so we’re here to help. Watch previous stories where we ask the question “Where’s the Money” in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.