INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s state deputy labor commissioner and IATSE Local 30’s business manager signed an agreement Sept. 9 that frees the union of the $11,500 penalty assessed by the state’s OSHA after the Aug. 13, 2011 stage structure collapse at the Indiana State Fair.
The storm-linked collapse killed seven, including Nathan Byrd, a spotlight operator. In its Feb. 2012 report, Indiana’s OSHA also fined stage owner Mid-America $63,000 and the Indiana State Fair Commission $6,300.
The agreement to absolve the fines includes additional safety training programs for IATSE Local 30 members. IATSE Local 30’s appeal of the fines included the contention that the union simply provided the labor at the fair, and should not be held liable as an employer of the stagehands there.
The signed agreement states that neither the union nor Indiana’s OSHA are ready to concede their position on the safety order, but notes that they both agree to “amicably” work to resolve their differences with a settlement that includes new state-monitored safety training program for current members by March 15, 2014.
The additional safety training, covering fall protection and hazard identification, will be included in the union’s training program for new union members as well.
