A Michigan state investigation has determined that the employer of an electrician who died on the job and an electrical inspector working for Fillmore Township intentionally violated safety laws, or were indifferent to them.
Michigan Live reported that together, they are being assessed a total of $357,000 by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration for a deadly June 16 industrial accident. Dale Berkompas, a master electrician, was killed when he made contact with an energized conductor while installing a fire pump at Brink Truck Lines. Brink is a customer of the Hamilton firm Gates Electric Inc.
The bulk of the fines — $287,000 — are being leveled against Berkompas' employer, Gates Electric, for five violations, including a lack of proper precautions and failure to provide protection for live electrical installation, Michigan Live reported. All but one of these violations were labeled "willful serious." Each "willful serious" citation comes with a $70,000 fine.
Gates Electric was also fined $7,000 for a "serious" violation of having expired gloves that are required when pulling to safety an employee who has been shocked.
Electrical Inspection Service LLC was fined $70,000 for not following the National Electric Code, by allowing power to be energized before the installation was properly completed, according to state investigators. The violation is also considered to be "willful serious."
