Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Daytona International Speedway (DIS) has agreed to put safety and training policies in writing as part of a settlement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which cited and fined the facility after a track safety worker was killed there in 2004.

Roy H. Weaver, III, 44, of Ormond Beach, Florida, a supervisor and seven-year veteran of DIS’s track safety crew, was killed February 9, 2004, when he was struck and killed by a racecar. Weaver was cleaning debris from NASCAR Turn Two during a caution period of the I-POWERacing Dash Series 150 stock car race when he was struck and killed instantly by a racecar traveling at an estimated 100-plus mph, according to an article by the Daytona Beach News Journal.

After a six-month investigation, OSHA “found that the company failed to enforce industry-recognized safety protocols for entering the track during a race, as outlined in the National Fire Protection Association Handbook. The proposed penalty for this alleged violation is $6,300,” read an August 6, 2004 press release issued by OSHA.

DIS contested OSHA’s citation, however, and a settlement was announced today. In the settlement, OSHA has agreed to drop its citation, and in return DIS will put the safety policies, training practices and communications procedures it already had in place into writing, according to DIS spokesman David Talley.

“The bottom line is we had a safety policy in place. Unfortunately, it wasn’t on paper,” Talley told Roadracingworld.com Wednesday. “We have training throughout the year. We have meetings throughout the year. We have meetings prior to all of our events, but there really wasn’t anything on paper. We were told to put our safety policy on paper, so that is what we will do, if it hasn’t been done already.”

Asked what differences (other than a new paddock and infield road course) motorcycle road racers will notice coming to Daytona this spring, Talley said, “It will be status quo when you guys come to town. You won’t see anything different. Safety is our number one concern here for our fans, for our competitors, for everyone who comes on property. That will continue to be the case when you guys come here.”

A call to the Jacksonville, Florida OHSA office Wednesday, did not reach James Borders, who was listed as a contact on OHSA’s press release.

From its press release: OHSA’s role is to assure the safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.