Indiana Department of Labor Issues Rulings in State Fair Stage Accident

Indiana's Department of Labor is citing three organizations in the Indiana State Fair accident last August that resulted in seven deaths. The incident, on August 13, occurred when, just before a concert featuring the country-western group Sugarland, the stage collapsed in the wake of a strong storm.

The IOSHA investigation, which at several points cites ANSI E1.21-2006 -- Temporary Ground-Supported Overhead Structures Used to Cover Stage Areas and Support Equipment in the Production of Outdoor Entertainment Events - a standard developed by PLASA's Technical Standards Program -- resulted in the following points:

The Indiana State Fair Commission was assessed $6,300 for a "serious violation" for failure to conduct a life safety evaluation that included an assessment of all conditions and the related appropriate safety measures of the Indiana State Fairgrounds concert venues at the fair.

Local 30 of IATSE, including Theatrical Payroll Services, Inc. was assessed a total of $11,500 for three "serious" and one "non-serious" violations. These included failure to consider soil conditions when placing cable anchor points for the grandstand stage; failure to provide fall protection for employees working 4' or more above ground level; and failure to conduct a personal protective equipment hazard assessment of the work site to determine the personal protective equipment required while erecting the load-bearing roof and grandstand. The non-serious violation involved failure to maintain proper OSHA records for four years.

Mid-America Sound Corporation, based in Greenfield, Indiana, was assessed $63,000 for three "knowing violations," including failure to develop and implement an operations management plan, failure to develop a risk assessment plan, failure to maintain and use current engineering calculations and documentation, and failure to provide appropriate, qualified supervision.

Describing the six-month-long investigation, Commissioner Lori A. Torres noted, "We have issued knowing citations to Mid-America Sound Corporation, which indicates the most serious safety violations. The evidence demonstrated that the Mid-America Sound Corporation was aware of the appropriate requirements and demonstrated a plain indifference to complying with those requirements." In addition, she said, "The State Fair Commission failed to have conducted an adequate life safety evaluation and plan prior to the event. The commission simply did not establish and maintain conditions of work for its employees that were reasonably safe and free from recognized hazards. She also noted that IATSE Local 30 clearly acted as an employer and failed to take proper safety precautions for employees and failed to take appropriate steps to ensure the load-bearing roof was properly secured."

Indiana law requires that IOSHA investigations be conducted within six months of the date of the fatality. The investigation took 175 days and involved more than 2,000 man hours.