More than $411K in penalties proposed over worker's death

HASTINGS — A federal safety agency has proposed more than $411,000 in penalties against the operator of a south-central Nebraska grain elevator where a worker was killed.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in a news release Monday that Cooperative Producers Inc. was being cited for three egregious willful and three serious violations following the agency's investigation. OSHA says 41-year-old Jason Weston died March 16 at the CPI elevator in Prosser after his lifeline tangled in an unguarded, rotating auger.

President Allan Zumpfe said CPI disagreed with OSHA's categorizing some violations as "willful" but said the co-op will work with OSHA to resolve those points.

OSHA has placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which focuses on employers that the agency says commits willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations.

Read more: http://journalstar.com/business/local/more-than-k-in-penalties-proposed-over-worker-s-death/article_0a26b142-b0fe-55c8-9245-5b872be149d7.html