Montana Body Shop Reaches Settlement With OSHA Over Fire

A Missoula, Mont., auto body shop has reached a settlement agreement with a federal work safety agency after an August fire killed a shop employee and injured another.

The Missoulian reports the settlement calls for Rick’s Auto Body to pay a $36,000 fine for numerous safety violations discovered after an explosion and fire killed 44-year-old Bruce Hall.

An investigation found Hall was pouring lacquer from a barrel into a smaller container through a funnel when the fumes exploded, in part due to lack of adequate ventilation.

OSHA initially proposed $51,100 in fines for fire and explosion hazards.

Jeff Funke, OSHA area director in Billings, says the shop owner has undertaken corrective actions “above and beyond the OSHA standard.”