OLYMPIA — The state Department of Natural Resources might pay a fine of $17,000 to another state agency in the wake of the death of a DNR worker from Beaver last winter.
The state Department of Labor and Industries’ investigation into the February death of Sam Gaydeski — who was killed by the blade of the brush cutter he was operating — concluded there were lapses in the handling of heavy equipment and supervising the operator.
Gaydeski, 50, was killed while working alone clearing brush for DNR near Clearwater in West Jefferson County.
Gaydeski’s body wasn’t found until nearly three hours after the end of his shift.
L&I investigators identified five violations, said DNR spokesman Bryan Flint.
They were:
■ Lack of written procedures for the equipment Gaydeski was operating.
■ No lock-out/tag-out procedure for the equipment.
■ Lack of proper procedural training.
■ An employee working alone in a remote area.
■ An employee working alone with heavy equipment.
The first three violations were addressed immediately after the accident that killed Gaydeski, Flint said.
“There was an immediate heavy equipment stand down,” he said.
The stand down lasted two weeks while DNR created new procedures, which were acceptable to L&I investigators, he said.
DNR was notified of the remaining two violations last week in a citation from L&I that suggested the $17,000 fine.
“The loss of Sam was tragic for DNR and for the community,” Flint said.
DNR is more than willing to make changes to ensure against future losses, he said.
“We think they are important changes,” he said.
“We will take the time to put the measures in place to make sure our workers are safe.”
One of the measures is a check-in process for employees working alone, Flint said.
Employees are required to call a supervisor or call center periodically and at the end of their shifts, he said.
Employees working with heavy equipment have to make more frequent check-ins, he said.
Gaydeski, a heavy-equipment operator for Natural Resources, was clearing weeds near the side of the DNR road near Clearwater.
When he didn’t return after the day’s work, his supervisor went in search and found the body at the side of the road.
Gaydeski, who left a wife and three children, was a nephew of former Clallam County Commissioner Lawrence Gaydeski. Other relatives are West End business owners, mainly in construction and logging.
________
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
