Alcir DeSouza pled guilty to a $50,000 penalty for deceiving federal workplace safety investigators.

The U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida found DeSouza had workers on roofs without fall protection systems.

“No employer should ever believe they have a choice when it comes to ensuring their workers have a safe and healthful workplace, and all employers should think twice before lying to a federal safety official about their failure to do so,” Nolan Houser, OSHA’s acting area director in Jacksonville, Fla., said in a release. “Employers need to recognize that their honesty and cooperation with every OSHA inspection is paramount to protecting their employees.”

The Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970 assures safe and healthful conditions for employees in the country.

“OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance,” the release said.

DeSouza Framing will pay a penalty of $50,000 for providing a false statement to OSHA.

The company pleaded guilty to the charges, a felony count of making a false statement to an OSHA investigation.