The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) concluded that contractors were to blame for the collapse of the tower of KOZK-TV Fordland, Mo,(Ozarks Public Television) back in April. That is according to Current, which covers noncommercial TV and radio issues, per an OSHA report it obtained via a FOIA request.

The accident killed the head of one of the two engineering firms hired to reinforce the tower, Tower Consultants Inc. and Steve Lemay LLC. Lemay, who was contracted by TCI to do the structural reinforcements, was killed and three of his workers injured when the 1,891 ft. tower collapsed. 

[Read: 'The Most Dangerous Job in America']

OSHA concluded that removing bolts on diagonal braces during the reinforcing process compromised the structure, that Lemay used undersized equipment, and that TCI failed to approve the design of a temporary frame prior to replacing a diagonal, as it was required to do.

The station was being repacked from channel 23 to channel 16, according to the National Association of Broadcasters, and was in the FCC's first phase of stations needing to move to new channels, which must be completed by the end of November.

The reinforcement was required for the tower to comply with wind and ice loads.

NAB has expressed concerns about safety with so much tower work needed to meet the repack deadlines.

SPRINGFIELD, MO--Ozarks Public Television, which lost its broadcast tower in April, resulting in the death of one tower worker and injuring three others, has announced that it has secured space for a new tower at an alternative site in Springfield, Mo., with plans to begin operations in 2-3 weeks at the new site.

In the April 19 accident, tower crew members were working on the 2,000 foot tower to transition the Missouri State University-owned PBS affiliate KOZK-TV in Fordland, Mo., to a new channel when it collapsed. The work was part of an industry-wide channel repack resulting from the 2017 spectrum auctions. Most OTA viewers in the Springfield area lost access to the broadcast signal, although the university has been using a combination of cable and satellite to deliver a low-power signal from the Missouri State University campus in the interim. OPT said it now provides KOZK’s signal to approximately 70 percent of its viewing audience.

Although the new tower will “significantly increase” the station’s OTA coverage, OPT said some communities will still be without a signal with full restoration of the signal expected in several more months.

“Our intent, and our top priority, is returning OPT service to our entire viewing area,” OPT said. “While this is a complex task with many technical, logistical, and regulatory hurdles, we are working diligently to accomplish it as quickly as is possible. We cannot overstate how much we appreciate the support, patience, and kindness of our viewers and supporters as we work through this challenging situation.”

For all our news on the ongoing repack, visit TV Technology's repack silo.