INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- An Indiana agency cited the State Fair Commission and a stagehands union Wednesday for violations in a stage rigging collapse that killed seven people.
The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration also cited Mid-America Sound Corp. of Greenfield, Ind., which owned the stage rigging, The Indianapolis Star reported.
Mid-America received the biggest fine, $63,000, while the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees Local 30 was fined $11,300 and the State Fair Commission $6,300 for violations.
The tragedy occurred at the state fair Aug. 13 when high wind toppled equipment hanging over the outdoor stage before the country duo Sugarland was to perform.
The stage rigging collapse injured dozens of others, and more than 100 tort claims seeking compensation have been filed.
Lori A. Torres, Indiana's labor commissioner, said IOSHA's role was to look for workplace safety violations, not to determine what caused the collapse.
The State Fair Commission failed to protect employees from hazards and didn't have an adequate plan for responding to emergencies, while fair employees were slow in making appropriate decisions, Torres said.
IOHSA said union riggers hadn't checked soil conditions before securing guide wires and construction wasn't "competent" under industry standards.
A stagehand, Nathan Byrd, was among those killed in the collapse, and at least nine other union members were among the more than 40 injured.
