The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Organization levied $77,500 in fines to the University of Notre Dame last week, following a five month investigation into the 2010 death of one of their student workers.
Twenty-year old Junior Declan Sullivan fell from a hydraulic scissor lift while filming football practice. Wind gusts during practice were reportedly in excess of 50 m.p.h. at the time of the incident, well in excess of the lift’s safety specifications and warnings.
IOSHA classified Sullivan’s death as a preventable workplace fatality, citing the lack of proper lift training for student employees and the failure of the university to recognize the hazardous weather conditions.
“The employer did not establish and maintain conditions of work which were reasonably safe and healthful for employees, and free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm,” said a recent IOSHA statement.
Notre Dame continues to conduct their own investigation of the October 27th accident, though university president Rev. John Jenkins has publically admitted fault for Sullivan’s death: “Declan Sullivan was entrusted to our care, and we failed to keep him safe.”
In addition to the $77,500 in IOSHA fines, Notre Dame also faces the possibility of a wrongful death lawsuit from Sullivan’s family, the settlement of which could reach tens of millions of dollars.
Ok the recently released IOSHA report, the family said: “We appreciate the thorough investigation by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) concerning the circumstances surrounding the death of our son, Declan. This report is an important step in preventing future accidents, but its findings do not change the fact that Declan is not with us.”
The university has since halted the use of scissor lifts to tape football practices, and has instead installed remote controlled cameras.
Source: MSN