Avista cited for Othello boom-truck death

Nearly $24,000 in fines

OTHELLO - The state fined Avista Utilties for an incident when an Othello man fell to his death from a boom truck on May 31.

The Avista employee was volunteering to help conduct an annual science experiment, where students design devices to protect an egg when dropped from an extended boom-truck lift at Hiawatha Elementary school.

Avista Utilities employee Robert (Bob) D. Smith and school teacher Melissa Martinez were thrown from the boom-truck lift when the base of the bucket arm broke away from the truck reportedly due to faulty bolts.

When the lift arm hit the basketball court play area, it became embedded into the concrete several inches before an audience of school children and their parents.

Smith was pronounced dead at Othello Community Hospital due to head injuries.

Martinez was transported to Othello Community Hospital and later taken to Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane for treatment for broken vertebras.

Five citations totaling $23,900 were sent to Avista, according to a citation packet prepared by labor and industries.

The packet was issued Nov. 21 from a Tumwater office. Avista can appeal or pay the fines, Department of Labor and Industries Regional Supervisor Javier Valdez said. Avista hasn't taken any action toward an appeal. If the citations are appealed, it leads to a hearing and a final determination of facts.

The largest fine is for $8,800 and is listed as a repeat of a serious violation. Valdez said the violation is listed as a repeat because Avista has been cited for the violation in the past. The previous violation may not have taken place at the Othello office because Avista has multiple offices, he said.

The violation involved Avista failing to ensure employees wear a full body harness and a lanyard. The purpose of the equipment is to prevent death or injury in case of a fall from the boom, according to state records. The violation reportedly appears corrected.

A fine of $4,400 was issued to Avista for failing to ensure employees were trained before operating the device.

A second fine of $4,400 was issued to Avista for failing to ensure employees conduct a thorough pre-start inspection of the boom truck, according to the state document.

Two fines totaling $6,300 were issued to Avista concerning failure to provide training to employees for hazards and safety requirements to operate the equipment.

The violations must be corrected by Dec. 24, Valdez said.

Avista representatives did not return phone calls from the Columbia Basin Herald.