Three found guilty of Indiana State Fair stage collapse

The Indiana Department of Labor has found three organisations guilty of the stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair accident on August 11, 2011. The staging company, the state commission and the union that runs the fair have all been accused and fined.

The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) said that a safety order was issued to the state commission citing a “serious violation” for failing to conduct a life safety evaluation and appropriate safety measures. The commission was fined $6,300.

A safety order was also issued to Local 30 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees for three “serious violations” and one “non-serious violation”. IOSHA said that it had failed to consider soil conditions when placing cable anchor points and that it had failed to provide employees working above four feet with fall protection.

Penalties of $3,500 were assessed for each serious violation, and a penalty of $1,000 was issued for failing to maintain health and safety records for four years. Total penalties assessed were $11,500.

Mid-America Sound Corporation, the staging company, was also handed a safety order for three “knowing violations” including 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. Mid-America Sound Corporation was fined $63,000.

Each organisation now has 15 working days to pay the fines.