RALEIGH - Wake County has been issued four violations today by state safety regulators following the February death of a county employee crushed by an ambulance after a pneumatic jack, used to lift the vehicle, slipped.

Wake officials met last week with officials from the state Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health to review the findings of an investigation into the accidental death of David Lee Champion, 33, a fleet master mechanic, according to a county press release.

OSH issued four citations Monday including fines totaling $22,400.

The four violations were:

- Failure to use wheel cocks to keep the ambulance from moving forward.

- Failure to properly train employees how to use the pneumatic jack.

- Failure to use jack stands.

- Failure to inspect the pneumatic jack before using it for repairs.

Upon official receipt of the findings, Wake is required to provide evidence of remediation within three days.

"We take these findings seriously and they will be incorporated into the steps we have already taken to improve our fleet safety program," David Goodwin, Wake's General Services director, said in the written statement.

Goodwin said the county has already launched additional safety training for its workers and new safety equipment has been provided to fleet mechanics to help prevent a similar accident from happening again.

The county has also hired a consultant to review its fleet safety program.

Champion had worked for Wake County for four years and was an experienced mechanic.

Until the fatal accident, the Wake County General Services Fleet Management office had not had a serious safety violation for 13 years.

Since 1995, the Capital Boulevard location has had only minor violations related to record-keeping and hand-washing stations.

"Wake County has lost a family member, friend and dedicated and talented Master Mechanic," Goodwin said in the statement. "The employees of GSA Fleet Operations have endured the worst of situations with dignity, and move forward based on respect for the Champion family, each other and a renewed dedication to the safety of their customers and fellow staff members."