Corvallis asphalt firm fined for death of worker

Corvallis asphalt firm fined for death of worker 

MISSOULA — A Corvallis asphalt company and its owner must pay $20,000 in fines and restitution for the 2012 death of an employee.

Martin Romano and MR Asphalt Inc. reached parallel plea agreements that were accepted Monday by Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch in U.S. District Court in Missoula. 

Romano was sentenced to three years unsupervised probation. He and MR Asphalt were each ordered to share equally $7,500 in fines and $12,500 in restitution to the widow of William Irby Jr.

Irby, of Corvallis, died Sept. 13, 2012, in a fall from an asphalt tank.

A subsequent investigation found 16 health and safety violations at the plant and that Romano attempted to cover up violations. The company was also ordered to implement various safety measures.