Contractor gets $24K fine in worker death
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A contractor for the Knoxville Utilities Board’s wastewater treatment plant has received a $24,000 fine in the accident that killed a worker.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reports 27-year-old Michael Tallent, of Powell, was holding stabilizing cables attached to a crane on Dec. 31. The boom of the crane hit overhead power lines, electrocuting Tallent.
A state investigation found contractor W and O Construction Company Inc. committed 10 serious safety violations.
Those include failure to have employees trained on grounding equipment, failure to have power cut to electrical lines and lack of training for employees regarding power lines.
Tim Huddleston is vice president of W and O Construction. He told the paper the business plans to contest the fines. He said they have corrected the problems found in the investigation.
