Port of Wilmington fined over worker accident
Man injured by boom lift Jan. 25
The Port of Wilmington was fined $10,500 by the N.C. Department of Labor over a January workplace injury. StarNews file photo
By Tim Buckland
StarNews Staff
Published: Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
WILMINGTON -- The Port of Wilmington was fined $10,500 by the N.C. Department of Labor (DOL) in relation to a Jan. 25 accident where an employee was pinned to a light fixture by a boom lift.
Labor spokeswoman Dolores Quesenberry said the port was issued the citations last month and requested an "informal conference, which is an employer’s opportunity to present any questions, problems, concerns, evidence and abatement verification."
She said the DOL made no changes to its citations after that conference and issued the N.C. State Ports Authority a "no change" letter, meaning the port has 15 business days to either pay the fine or appeal to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission of North Carolina. She said the port received the letter Monday and has until July 5 to contest it.
“We have received the citation from the N.C. Department of Labor and are working with officials on the proper after action items," ports spokesman Cliff Pyron said in an email.
The serious violation, with a $7,000 fine, said the port did not properly train or furnish employees with conditions about the hazards of working with a boom lift. The non-serious violation, with a fine of $3,500, was for allegedly not notifying the Occupational Safety and Health Administration within 24 hours of an employee being hospitalized, suffering an amputation or losing an eye.
The citations did not specify the employee's exact injuries.