Modern Painting owner charged in electrocution
Share with others:
Federal prosecutors Tuesday charged the owner of a Springdale Borough-based company with willful violation of an occupational safety regulation resulting in the 2010 electrocution of a man working on a Habitat for Humanity building.
Thomas C. Caruso of Modern Painting and Decorating was charged through a criminal information filed by U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton's office.
Mr. Caruso's firm was the subject of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration fine of $57,900 after the April 7, 2010, death of Paul Thompson, 48, of Pittsburgh. OSHA found that Mr. Thompson was allowed to work too close to power lines, which killed him.
The criminal information said that employees aren't allowed to work close to electric power circuits unless they are protected against shock and the circuit is grounded or insulated and that the death occurred because Mr. Caruso's firm broke that rule.
Mr. Caruso could not be immediately reached at Modern Painting and Decorating's office.
First Published July 18, 2012 12:00 am
