State fines company whose workers killed in St. Paul sewer flood

[Omaha Steve]

http://wcco.com/minnesotawire/22.0.html?type=local&state=MN&category=n&filename=MN--Workers-WashedAwa.xml

ST. PAUL (AP) The state Occupational Safety and Health Division has fined the company that employed two workers who were swept away and died in St. Paul's storm sewers during a heavy downpour last summer.

OSHA says Lametti & Sons committed five safety violations, and fined them $106,000. A spokesman for the Hugo-based company denied that officials intentionally disregarded employee safety.

Workers Dave Yasis and Joe Harlow were working in a sewer shaft in late July when a sudden downpour swamped the sewer and swept their bodies into the Mississippi River, where they were later found.

The company has contested OSHA's findings, and next up is a conference between the company and the agency to try to reach a settlement.

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com