State OSHA agency levies 3 fines for Indiana State Fair stage collapse

The Texas City workplace accident attorneys at Denena & Points note that Indiana’s OSHA agency released their report yesterday on the investigation begun following the deadly collapse of the Indiana State Fair concert stage during a storm. The stage collapse on August 13, 2011 killed 7 people and injured 58, some of whom remain in serious condition and severely disabled today. OHSA also fined 3 entities for their roles in the concert stage collapse and its deadly outcome:

• $63,000 fine against Mid-America Sound Corp., the company in charge of building the stage, for “indifference” to safety requirements. OSHA’s investigation found that Mid-America Sound failed to provide appropriate supervision and failed to provide a risk assessment plan.
• $11,500 fine against the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Theatrical Payroll Services, Inc., the union working at the site, for failing to consider soil conditions when placing the stage’s cable anchor points. The OSHA investigation found that the union clearly acted as an employer at the site.
• $6,300 fine against the Indiana State Fair Commission, which runs the Fair, for failure to make an adequate life safety evaluation and evacuation plan and for failure to establish and maintain reasonably safe working conditions for its employees at the site.

These fines might seem paltry in relation to the harm caused by the 3 entities’ failures to create and maintain safe working conditions. And the OSHA report, while interesting, doesn’t really address the actual causes of the Indiana State Fair concert stage collapse. But OSHA’s mandate limits it to investigating workplace safety violations and fining U.S. employers who disregard safety requirements for their failures to comply.

Our Texas City workplace accident attorneys remind you that OSHA does not conduct the type of in-depth workplace accident investigations or make the type of reports that could help injured victims or grieving family members of victims who died in an accident. And in the case of the deadly Indiana State Fair stage collapse, the two exhaustive investigative reports by outside agencies that will address causes of the fatal accident remain pending and aren’t due out for a few months yet. But we question whether such tiny fines by OSHA could really provide employer incentive to increase workplace safety or comply with applicable safety regulations.

Victims and family members of victims seeking fair compensation for their harm from a work-related accident must turn to experienced lawyers like the Texas City workplace accident attorneys at Denena & Points to gain redress for their injuries. If you’ve suffered harm because of a workplace accident, contact our dedicated Texas City workplace accident attorneys for a free and confidential consultation.

Our lawyers have more than 12 years of experience investigating complex accidents. We could conduct a thorough investigation on your behalf to discover the causes of your accident and to identify the parties responsible for paying for your injuries. Texas law regarding workplace injuries is complex, and you might have various options for seeking just compensation. We could review the circumstances of your case with you and help you determine your legal options and potential case outcomes. Contact us toll free at 877-307-9500 or use our online contact form to schedule your free legal consultation.