A construction worker at NIPSCO's R.M. Schahfer Generating Station in Wheatfield died after an accident at the power plant Tuesday morning.
Troy Jabaay, 49, of Hebron, was pronounced dead at 8:44 a.m. after being transported to Porter Regional Hospital, according to Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris.
An autopsy will be performed to determine the manner and cause of death, but preliminary reports indicate the Jabaay fell from scaffolding, Harris said.
Jabaay worked for Safway Services LLC, according to Chetrice Mosley, a spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Labor. The company is a national firm that supplies scaffolding, hoists and other equipment to construction sites.
The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration will send a compliance officer to the Schahfer Generating Station today to open a comprehensive investigation of the incident, Mosley said.
The agency's review will include not only the incident itself, but worker training, safety equipment and other factors, Mosley said. The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration has the power to fine employers who are found to have violated health and safety regulations.
NIPSCO has contracted with Safway Services to work on a maintenance project at the coal-fired electric generating plant, said NIPSCO spokesman Tom Stevens. There also is a massive construction project underway at the plant to install pollution control equipment, but the victim was not involved in that project, he said.
NIPSCO will take part in a complete review of the incident along with state and federal safety officials, Stevens said.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of this contract employee,” Stevens said. “Our sympathy goes out to the family and co-workers who knew him.”
Please Wait…