The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued one serious safety violation and proposed a $7,000 fine for Wanzek Construction in the death of a crane operator in an accident near Elgin, Neb., on May 27.
Thomas L. Bales, 40, a crane operator from Denver, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was employed by Tradesman International and was working for Wanzek Construction Inc., which is building the Prairie Breeze II Wind Energy Center near Elgin for Invenergy.
OSHA said he was moving a 90-ton rough-terrain crane along a county road when the crane slipped into a ditch and overturned. He was not wearing a safety restraint, OSHA said.
Wanzek Construction operates from Oakdale, Nebraska, and the company is headquartered in West Fargo, N.D.
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