Roof Collapse at Mequon Barn Injures 7 Workers

Federal investigation underway after incident during re-shingling project

Apr. 13, 2026 at 11:41pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a twisted, splintered wooden beam from the collapsed barn roof, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying the stark, gritty aftermath of the workplace accident.The federal investigation into the Mequon barn roof collapse will scrutinize the safety practices of the roofing contractor involved.Today in Milwaukee

Seven workers were injured, including three who were trapped under debris, when a barn roof collapsed in Mequon, Wisconsin during a re-shingling project on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. at a 130-year-old barn, where workers had been tearing off old shingles for about three hours before the collapse. Rescue crews transported the injured workers to local hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious.

Why it matters

The roof collapse at the Mequon barn has prompted a federal investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) into the incident and the safety practices of the roofing contractor. Workplace accidents like this raise concerns about construction site safety, especially for older structures undergoing renovations.

The details

According to authorities, the workers were re-shingling the roof of the 1890-built barn when the peak of the roof suddenly caved in, trapping three people underneath the fallen rafters and roofing material. Rescue crews from several surrounding communities assisted in extricating the trapped workers and transporting the seven injured individuals to local hospitals.

  • The incident occurred around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 2026.
  • The workers had been on the roof for about three hours, stripping off old shingles, before the collapse.

The players

Vidmar Roofing

The Greendale-based roofing company hired by the homeowner to re-shingle the barn. The company declined to comment at the scene.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

The federal agency that has opened an investigation into the incident and has six months to complete its review.

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What’s next

OSHA has six months to complete its investigation into the roof collapse incident and determine if any safety violations or other issues contributed to the accident.

The takeaway

This workplace accident at a construction site highlights the importance of strict safety protocols, especially when working on older structures. The OSHA investigation will aim to identify any lapses in safety practices that may have led to the roof collapse and injured workers.