OSHA: Company ignored safety rules, 'cost a man his life'

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The federal government says an Illinois tank cleaning company's violation of safety rules killed a New Orleans employee and injured two others in October.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing $226,000 in fines against Dedicated TCS LLC. It's based in Lansing, Illinois and also has cleaning facilities in New Orleans and Channahon (SHAN'-uh-hahn), Illinois.

OSHA says the company failed to test the atmosphere inside a railroad tank car before workers went inside to clean it, and failed to make them attach rescue lines to their harnesses.

OSHA's Baton Rouge area director, Dorinda Folse, says this is OSHA's fourth citation against Dedicated TCS. She says, "the company's inaction has cost a man his life."

A worker who would not give her name says Dedicated TCS won't comment.