Death of Schenectady plant worker raises safety questions

The investigation into the death of a worker at Precision Industrial Maintenance in Schenectady continues, but it turns out the company has been investigated before.

It was Tuesday when two workers were hospitalized after being exposed to hazardous material at the Erie Blvd. plant while attempting to repair a sewage vacuum. One of the men died Thursday.

OSHA, the federal workplace safety agency, says this latest incident is not the first time they have investigated Precision. Back in March, OSHA cited and fined the company $2400 over another job.

According to Ed Jerome, head of the Albany office at OSHA, Precision committed several violations while removing lead from UAlbany's downtown campus back in the spring.

Violations included employees not wearing proper protective equipment, and not having changing or washing facilities for the employees.

OSHA safety requirements say that workers "who enter a permit space must wear a chest or full body harness with a retrieval line attached to the center of their backs near shoulder level or above their heads."

Moreover, "the employer must ensure that the other end of the retrieval line is attached to a mechanical device or a fixed point outside the permit space." 

Whether that was done during last week is unclear, but is expected to be part of the OSHA investigation.

In the meantime, Precision President Todd Kilburn issued a statement expressing "deepest sympathies to the family and friends of our good friend and long-time colleague. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has been touched by this tragic accident."  

The company had no further comment.