02.04.2012

Shipyard hit with $171k of fines

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the Bath Iron Works shipyard, of Bath, Maine, with $171,300 of fines for repeated and serious violations of workplace safety rules, including using aerial lifts without a harness.

The shipyard, owned by General Dynamics, said that it immediately corrected the problems identified during the inspection.

Issues found by OSHA include: The lack of fall protection, unguarded roof edges, holes and openings, trip and fall hazards from walkways obstructed by materials, equipment, hoses and service cords, an unqualified employee operating an overhead crane, defective and uninspected lifting slings and uninspected lift trucks.

The fines include $93,500 for three repeat violations and $77,800 for 15 serious violations.

William Coffin, OSHA’s area director for Maine said: “We focused on this industry because establishments primarily engaged in ship building and repair in the state of Maine have higher than average injury and illness rates. A proactive, sustained, effective and on-going effort by employers to identify and eliminate hazards such as these is necessary for employees’ safety and well-being.”

The 17-day inspection took place last October and November. A company spokesman said: “Immediate action was taken to correct items identified during the inspection and all items have since been abated. We are in the process of reviewing the details the report and we intend to request an informal conference with OSHA officials to further discuss the inspection results.”

“The safety of our employees is a top priority and programmes instituted over the last several years have enabled us to make good progress in reducing workplace injuries and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations. We will continue to emphasise safety in all aspects of our business and work with OSHA to further enhance the effectiveness of these programmes.”