OSHA Citation for Montana Company’s Failure to Report Worker Death

A Butte, Mont., company has paid a $2,000 fine for failing to make a timely report of an employee’s death last fall.

Big Sky Rentals employee Jay F. Bickford was in the bucket of a lift on Oct. 18 when it tipped over on its side. He was thrown from the bucket and suffered fatal injuries. He was taken to the hospital in Butte then flown to a Missoula hospital, where he died of his injuries.

Jeff Funke, area director for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, tells The Montana Standard that the company was fined for failing to report Bickford’s death to OSHA within eight hours, as required.

Funke had earlier said he expected other citations to be issued said Wednesday an investigation found “extenuating circumstances.” He declined to elaborate.