OSHA cites Utah firm for worker's death

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2008/03/19/news/local_state/133093.txt

By Cassidy Friedman
Times-News writer

A Utah-based construction company whose employee was fatally electrocuted Feb. 5 on a Jerome work site will pay a $4,000 fine and must improve its safety procedures.

The agreement was reached at an informal conference between Allstate Construction and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Its staff has already posted signs to clearly demarcate power lines extending precariously overhead, an OSHA official said.

"They didn't really recognize the hazard of the power line being there," said OSHA Area Director Jerry Hockett.

Ken Lahn, 38, of Jerome, was guiding a crane to move scrap metal at the Jerome city water treatment plant when the crane's cable hit a live power line, according to a Jerome police report. The line sent a 7,000-volt surge, which grounded through Lahn and an outrigger of the crane. Sparks on the outrigger drew the crane operator's attention away from Lahn, who was being shocked.

FULL story at link.