OSHA fines local company
Agency rules in electrocution of York man
Published: Thursday, October 29, 2009 1:20 AM CDT
YORK — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined a local company, saying its work practices contributed to the death of a worker last summer.
OSHA has been investigating the death of Korey Schall, 23, of York, since the fatal work accident on Aug. 21. Initially, there was no confirmed cause of Schall’s death, although there were indications from emergency response agencies that is could have been the result of an electrocution.
York County Attorney Tim Sieh announced the investigation after an autopsy was performed. At that point, Sieh said his office would be releasing no further information and that the investigation was being solely handled by OSHA. The results of the autopsy were never released.
Schall was a foreman for Crane and Grain Service in York, working at a rural site when the accident occurred. Formal details of the accident were not released; however, OSHA says that three company violations played a role in Schall’s death. OSHA officials say he “was injured by electricity while assembling a grain bin on a farm near York and later died.” The agency says “an improperly wired flexible cord was in use at the time of the accident.” And OSHA said the company “used damaged ladders and didn’t properly train workers on ladder use.”
“This accident was preventable,” said Charles Adkins, OSHA’s regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. “Employers need to be proactive in addressing safety issues to ensure their workplaces are safe and healthful.”
The local company has been ordered to pay a $9,300 fine. Crane and Grain Service has 15 business days from receipt of these citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director in Omaha or contest the findings before the OSHA review commission.