OSHA: 2 Illinois grain bin deaths were preventable

7/29/2010 2:38:00 PM
By: The Associated Press

MOUNT CARROLL, Ill. (AP) - The condition of a hospitalized grain bin worker who was injured in an accident that left two other employees dead has improved. A spokeswoman for St. Anthony's Hospital in Rockford said Thursday that 20-year-old William Piper was in fair condition. Authorities were called Wednesday to a bin owned by Haasbach LLC in Mount Carroll in northwestern Illinois. Rescue workers cut holes in the bin and drained thousands of pounds of corn to free the trapped workers. Federal officials say one worker was underage and employees lacked safety equipment.

Haasbach did not return telephone messages Thursday seeking comment. OSHA says the three employees were working inside the bin when the accident happened. A fourth worker outside the bin was not injured.

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