Firms whose workers died had been fined over safety

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080413/NEWS/804130379/1001/NEWS

Earlesha Butler • Hattiesburg American • April 13, 2008

Two local companies whose workers died as a result of cave-ins last month have been fined in the past for safety violations, records show.

Hattiesburg-based L&A Contracting Co. was fined $233,800 for 12 safety violations in 1999, according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration records.

From 1999 to 2005, the company had a total of 18 violations and has been fined $245,828, according to OSHA records.

Tim Bright, 38, of Petal, an employee of L&A, died March 22 of injuries he sustained in a March 13 ditch collapse on Lois Lane in Lamar County. OSHA is investigating.

Lee Sims, president of L&A Contracting, declined to comment on past OSHA violations.

Meanwhile, three employees of American Air Specialists of Hattiesburg died March 21 when a trench in which they were working collapsed. Killed were Leonardo Navarro Diaz, 30, of Sumrall; Brandon Edward Rathbone, 19, of Hattiesburg; and Wayne Dale Kelly, 55, of Columbia.

FULL story at link.