Stage collapse report to be released Wednesday

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - An Indiana state agency is set to release the first official report into the deadly stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair. The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) will present its findings Wednesday morning at the Statehouse.

IOSHA is charged with upholding workplace safety, so the report is likely to focus heavily on those who worked to put the stage up. The stage was owned by Mid-America Sound, but assembled by members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stagehands Employees Local 30.

The Indiana Department of Labor says the report will also include an outline of what led up to the Aug. 13 collapse that killed seven people, and left nearly 60 hurt. What’s less clear in advance of the report’s release is who — if anyone — the agency will hold accountable. The labor department says the briefing will also include new safety orders issued as a result of its probe. Indiana Labor Commissioner Lori Torres and Deputy Commissioner Jeffry Carter will present the findings.

It’s likely IOSHA will use “industry standards" to determine if proper protocols were followed prior to the rigging collapse. Because the stage was built on state-owned property, no inspections were required by law.

In October, the agency served a search warrant at the Local 30 union hall, asking for things like safety logs and personnel records of the stagehand killed that day — Nathan Byrd — and others who were hurt.

At the time, the union called that move "heavy handed."

“They're asking for a lot of records that we don't have, based on employer records. And, it’s our position that we’re not an employer,” Bill Groth, Local 30’s attorney, told 24-Hour News 8.

IOSHA has denied the state is "deflecting" blame, saying the search warrant was only served because the agency needed additional documents to complete its investigation.

“I think it is blaming the victim,” responded Groth to the state’s claim. “Our organization, Local 30, lost a member and had six of its members injured. The state is also playing the role of investigator. At least one could argue that they are trying to find some group or organization to pass the blame along to.”

Two outside firms are also investigating the incident, looking into the state fair's emergency weather plans and response to the approaching storm that night, and the engineered components of the stage and rigging structures.

The results of IOSHA’s probe are likely to include new safety orders and potentially fines, along with recommendations aimed at keeping a similar collapse from happening again.

24-Hour News 8 will have the results of the state’s investigation starting at noon on-air and online as developments break.