OSHA Wants $53K From Pennsylvania Gas Driller for Citations

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration wants a southwestern Pennsylvania drilling company to pay $53,200 in fines for alleged safety violations even though they weren’t linked to a worker’s death.

OSHA says Thursday it found 14 “serious” violations, including failing to use property listed and labeled electrical equipment, and two less serious violations against Target Drilling, of Smithton.

OSHA began investigating a drilling site near Waynesburg when 20-year-old Kerry Duncan, of Amma, W.Va. died July 22. The Greene County coroner at first believed Duncan may have been electrocuted before determining he died from an overdose of unspecified “illegal” drugs.

OSHA spokeswoman Leni Fortson says government inspectors found the alleged violations during the investigation, but is not contending they led to Duncan’s death.

An attorney says the company is still reviewing the citations and its options.