Stage Collapse Report To Cite Union

An attorney for a stagehands union says a state report on the Indiana State Fair’s stage collapse unfairly blames the union in the disaster that killed seven people and injured 58 others.

WTHR-TV says the report set for release Wednesday morning accuses the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 30 of five workplace violations in the Aug. 13 stage collapse.
Local 30 attorney Bill Groth says the findings by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration are “reprehensible” and an attempt to deflect attention away from the State Fair Commission.

He tells WTHR “they’re looking for scapegoats and we happen to be first in line.”

IOSHA spokesman Bill Dittmer told The Associated Press Wednesday that the agency will not comment on its findings until it releases the report.