ST. MARYS — The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued fines in connection with the deadly building collapse in St. Marys over the summer.
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As previously reported by News Center 7, two men were working on repairs at a building along East Spring Street when it gave way on July 31.
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Christopher R. Brown, 41, of St. Marys, was killed and Kevin Sharp was injured.
OSHA cited the building owner, Todd Klosterman, approximately $41,706 for three “serious” safety violations after a four-month investigation.
The citations were for preparatory operations, safety training and education, and general safety and health provisions.
Each violation was issued on Nov. 13 and carries a proposed penalty of $13,902.
Sharp previously told News Center 7’s John Bedell that they were working to shore up a wall so a mason contractor could repair it.
Federal inspectors said Klosterman allegedly didn’t maintain or establish an accident-prevention program.
OSHA also claims that the two employees weren’t trained properly to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions related to their work.
“Employees were not instructed in the means and methods for building and installing a temporary shoring system, in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions related to demolition work, in monitoring methods to ensure the stability of the building during demolition and construction work, or to identify and detect hazards resulting from weakened walls or floors,” one citation reads.
OSHA stated that a qualified person didn’t conduct an engineering survey to check the condition of the building before demolition work started.
“Employees who worked to remove and excavate sections of the foundation, a section of the south exterior wall, and/or installed jack posts were exposed to being struck and/or crushed by falling building materials,” the citation reads.
Brown was crushed and killed when part of the building’s west exterior wall collapsed, OSHA reported.
This incident remains under investigation.
We will continue to follow this story.
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