BILLINGS – Federal regulators have fined a Billings construction company $8,000 for health and safety violations related to the January death of worker at the former Labor Temple on the South Side.
Fisher Construction was initially fined $11,445 for two citations for serious violations, but the penalties were reduced after the company held an informal conference with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to Jose Carnevali, a spokesman for the agency.
The citations do not specifically mention the death of 39-year-old David Shepard, a worker who died when a large piece of concrete fell at the site and struck him. Carnevali said that incident sparked the OSHA investigation and fines, which Fisher paid last month.
Shepard was part of the crew working to restore the Labor Temple at the corner of First Avenue South and South 29th Street as the new headquarters for the nonprofit Community Leadership and Development Inc.
Fisher was cited for failing to conduct a proper engineering survey of the framing floors and walls to prevent an unplanned collapse and not providing employees protection from striking hazards.
The other citation was for employees for subcontractors, Western State Steel Erection Co. not wearing masks to protect against harmful airborne dust.
