MARQUETTE COUNTY, MI — A contractor with the Upper Peninsula Power Company died Friday while working at the Hoist Dam in Negaunee Township.

It is believed the contractor slid 85 feet to his death, according to authorities.

The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the work-related death, which occurred at around 11 a.m., according to a news release .

A technical rescue unit with the sheriff’s office responded to the scene, where they extracted the contractor from a confined space inside a penstock of the Hoist Powerhouse. The contractor was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Deputies said it appears that two contractors were working on applying a coating inside of the penstock. It is believed that they were notified by their air monitors that the conditions were unsafe

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