Cal-OSHA Revives Probe Into Worker's Death at 49ers Stadium

A state workplace safety agency Tuesday announced it is resuming an investigation into a company building an elevator at the San Francisco 49ers' planned new stadium in Santa Clara where a man was killed in June.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health reported it had rescinded its decision giving Schindler Elevator a notice that no violation occurred in the June 11 death of Donald White, who died when a counterweight of an elevator fell on him, Cal-OSHA spokeswoman Erika Monterroza said.

That's because a senior Cal-OSHA investigator had some questions about the initial report, not because there was any new information brought to the agency's attention, she said. Monterroza did not disclose the questions the investigator had.

RELATED: Steel Company Driver Dies at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara

A second Levi's Stadium worker died on Oct. 14. Edward Erving Lake Jr.. The 61-year-old driver for Gerdau Ameristeel was killed when a bundle of rebar being unloaded from his truck by a forklift fell off the side of his truck and on top of him. That investigation is still open.

The 30-foot-long bundle contained 30 pieces of steel rebar, used to reinforce concrete, Hennessy said.

 Cal-OSHA can fine a company $7,000 for general and regulatory violations, $25,000 for a serious violation and from $5,000 to $70,000 for a willful violation of occupational safety codes.

Jonathan Harvey, project co-director for Turner Devcon, the stadium project's general contractor, said that Cal-OSHA had not released information to him about the investigations and so he could not comment.

The $1.3 billion Levi Stadium project is to serve as the new home for the 49ers when it is completed next summer.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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