OSHA investigating after airport mechanic dies from carbon monoxide poisoning

An investigation is underway after a St. Louis man died of carbon monoxide poisoning from exposure at an airport in Moberly.

Three men were hospitalized Feb. 5 after being exposed to carbon monoxide at Omar Bradley Airport, according to police. They were all taken to the hospital along with a Moberly firefighter who also suffered carbon monoxide exposure.

The Randolph County coroner confirmed Wednesday morning that Arron J. Herring, 29, of St. Louis, died at a hospital in Columbia on Saturday of carbon monoxide poisoning.

All others effected by carbon monoxide exposure have been released from the hospital.

Moberly Community Development Director Tom Sanders said two of the men exposed to carbon monoxide were aircraft mechanics out of the St. Louis area. The men were independently hired to repair a private aircraft inside a hangar. The third person exposed to carbon monoxide entered the hangar at a later time, saw the other two men affected and called 911.

The Omar Bradley Airport is publicly-owned but has several privately owned hangars. Sanders said the hangar where the incident happened is leased to CMAE LLC.

“The lease was initiated in 2015, and the hangar was constructed at that time,” Sanders said.

He said the hangar holds multiple privately owned planes.

Investigators said the source of the carbon monoxide was a malfunctioning heater.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating to confirm all standards and regulations were followed. An OSHA spokesperson said witnesses are currently being interviewed. By law, OSHA has six months to complete the investigation.

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