A Cranberry company pleaded guilty yesterday to willfully violating an Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulation that caused the death of an employee.

American Asbestos Control Co. entered the plea before Senior U.S. District Judge Alan N. Bloch.

According to prosecutors, the company was in a contract to remove an asbestos-filled roof.

Through a temporary company, American Asbestos hired a Mexican national to work on the job. On that man's first day, he fell 48 feet through an uncovered skylight and died. The man did not have adequate fall protection, prosecutors said.

Some of the company's employees had previously expressed concerns about safety on the project.

Sentencing is set for July 12.