Company fined for ballpark worker's death
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The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined a St. Michael-based demolition company $51,650 for an accident that killed a man working on the new St. Paul Saints ballpark last year.
OSHA cited Rachel Contracting for three serious safety violations at the ballpark site where backhoe operator Johnny Valek, of Plymouth, Minn., died in September.
• Sept. 10: Construction worker killed at site of new Saints stadium
The federal agency said the company violated standards related to the safe cutting and removal of load-bearing parts of the building. It also faulted the company for its site preparation and inspection. Records on the agency's website give no further details on the nature of the alleged problems.
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The OSHA investigation came after a 30-foot slab of concrete collapsed while Valek helped demolish the abandoned factory that stood on the ballpark site.
Rachel Contracting has contested the fines, which could be reduced upon appeal.
The company did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Rachel was a subcontractor working for Ryan Companies, which OSHA did not fine.
A separate investigation by the state OSHA office remains underway.
