Indiana OSHA has cited three organizations involved in the Indiana State Fair accident on August 13, 2011, that resulted in fatal injuries of two workers. Fifty-eight people were injured and 7 were killed when a deadly force of wind toppled stage equipment just before the band Sugarland was scheduled to perform.

IOSHA cited the Indiana State Fair Commission with one serious violation for failure to conduct a life safety evaluation and cited Local 30 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees for 3 serious violations. Violations included failure to consider soil conditions when placing cable anchor points for the grandstand stage; failure to provide fall protection for workers 4 feet or more above ground level; and, failure to conduct a personal protective equipment hazard assessment of the worksite to determine the personal protective equipment required while erecting the load bearing roof and the grandstand.

IOSHA also cited Mid-America Sound Corporation for 3 knowing violations, including failure to develop and implement an Operations Management Plan, failure to develop a risk assessment plan, failure to maintain and use current engineering calculations and documentation, and failure to provide appropriate, qualified supervision. See the news release below for more detailed information: 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FATAL INJURIES AT 2011 INDIANA STATE FAIR RESULT IN SAFETY VIOLATIONS ASSESSED AGAINST THREE ORGANIZATIONS

INDIANAPOLIS (February 8, 2012) – The Indiana Department of Labor announced today it is citing three organizations involved in the Indiana State Fair accident on August 13, 2011 that resulted in fatal injuries of seven people including two employees. The IOSHA investigation resulted in the following: 

1. A Safety Order was issued to the Indiana State Fair Commission citing them for a “serious violation” for failure to conduct a life safety evaluation that included an assessment of all conditions and the related appropriate safety measures of the Indiana State Fairgrounds concert venues at the 2011 Indiana State Fair. A penalty of $6,300 was assessed. 

2. A Safety Order was issued to Local 30 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees including Theatrical Payroll Services, Inc. for three (3) “serious violations” and one (1) “non-serious violation.” Citations included failure to consider soil conditions when placing cable anchor points for the grandstand stage; failure to provide fall protection for employees working 4 feet or more above ground level; and, failure to conduct a personal protective equipment hazard assessment of the worksite to determine the personal protective equipment required while erecting the load bearing roof and the grandstand. The non-serious violation involved failure to maintain proper OSHA records for four years. Penalties of $3,500 were assessed for each serious violation, and a penalty of $1,000 was assessed for the non-serious violation. Total penalties assessed were $11,500. 

3. A Safety Order was issued to Mid-America Sound Corporation for three (3) “knowing violations.” These violations included failure to develop and implement an Operations Management Plan, the failure to develop a risk assessment plan, failure to maintain and use current engineering calculations and documentation, and failure to provide appropriate, qualified supervision. 

Each knowing violation was assessed a penalty of $21,000. Total penalty assessed was $63,000.

“The Indiana Department of Labor, through its Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration, undertook a 6-month investigation of whether any health or safety standards that were owed to employees on the premises were violated,” noted Commissioner Lori A. Torres.  “The investigation does not address duties to the public and it was not an investigation of causation. IOSHA does not as standard practice establish causation. When an employee is killed while working, Indiana law establishes a duty on the employer to ensure that fatality is reported. IOSHA then determines whether it falls within its jurisdiction to investigate that fatality. The investigation is conducted to determine if established safety standards were violated by any employer on site. Because two employees were killed as a result of the collapse of the load bearing roof, an IOSHA investigation was initiated.” 

“We have issued knowing citations to Mid-America Sound Corporation, which indicates the most serious safety violation,” said Commissioner Torres during a morning news briefing at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. “The evidence demonstrated that the Mid-America Sound Corporation was aware of the appropriate requirements and demonstrated a plain indifference to complying with those requirements.”

“The State Fair Commission failed to have conducted an adequate life safety evaluation and plan prior to the event,” noted Commissioner Torres. “The commission simply did not establish and maintain conditions of work for its employees that were reasonably safe and free from recognized hazards.”

She also noted that IATSE Local 30 clearly acted as an employer and failed to take proper safety precautions for employees and failed to take appropriate steps to ensure the load bearing roof was properly secured.

Maximum penalties that may be assessed under Indiana law are:

• Non-Serious Violation: $7,000
• Serious Violation: $7,000
• Knowing Violation: $70,000 

Each organization was informed of the investigation findings this week prior to the 10 a.m. news briefing. Each will have 15 business days, by Indiana law, to pay the penalties or to contest them to the Indiana Board of Safety Review. All violations require abatement by March 6, 2012.  Indiana law requires that IOSHA investigations be conducted within 6 months of the date of the fatality. The investigation took 175 days and involved more than 2,000 manhours.  A copy of the safety orders are available on the Indiana Department of Labor’s website at: www.in.gov/dol/2367.htm.

About the Indiana Department of Labor:

The mission of the Indiana Department of Labor is to advance the safety, health and prosperity of Hoosiers in the workplace.  Note: The above information was taken from OSHA’s QuickTakes bi-monthly newsletter that we receive, as well as the Indiana Department of Labor.  This is an example of what happens when outdoor events are not safely set up.  We can’t control the wind; however, if the proper planning had been done, possibly lives wouldn’t have been lost, and injuries could have been avoided. Hopefully, these citations will make those who set up public concerts and other venues  be aware of OSHA rules in order to keep their citizens safer.