ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, August 14, 1996 TAG: 9608140021
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA
Avis Construction Co. of Roanoke is contesting a $7,000 fine issued by the state in connection with a fatal construction accident in February.
Timothy Edward Huff, 32, of Christiansburg, died Feb. 9 when he fell about 30 feet from the roof of an expansion project at New Energy Bedrooms on Prospect Drive.
Witnesses told town police that Huff, who was moving roofing material, misjudged the distance between steel roof beams and stepped backward. He slipped, fell through the roof and struck his head. He died immediately.
After an investigation by the state division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Avis Construction was cited for a serious violation because Huff was not wearing a body harness and was working at a height of more than 16 feet when he fell.
It is typical for companies to contest fines issued by the state, because it essentially puts off the deadline for payment until a settlement is reached between the state and company. An uncontested fine must be paid within 15 days of its issuance.
But Avis' executive vice president said the company believes OSHA is wrong.
"We are contesting [the fine] because we don't believe there was any violation," Barry Baird said Tuesday.
A state investigation into the death of a Pulaski man who fell to his death from the roof of Cassell Coliseum at Virginia Tech June 27 is still ongoing, according to an OSHA spokesman.
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB