Southwestern Indiana Company Fined $2,000 in Worker’s 2010 Death

State officials have fined an Evansville, Ind., company $2,000 for the death of a worker killed when a forklift tipped over onto him.

The Evansville Courier & Press reports Bootz Industries paid the fine following an investigation by the state Department of Labor into the August 2010 death of 49-year-old John Fugate of Evansville.

That investigation found that the fork truck that killed Fugate “may not have been safe to operate” due to fluid leaks and brake problems.

Under the terms of its agreement with the state, the maker of bathroom and kitchen fixtures agreed to take that fork truck out of service and to provide a refresher course to all lift truck drivers within 30 days.

The state assessed a $3,500 penalty, but that was reduced to $2,000.