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| Employee Padmore K. Atakorah suffered fatal injuries at its Commodores Point facility in Jacksonville, Florida |
July 9, 2018
U.S. Department of Labor Cites North Florida Shipyard
for Safety Violations Following Employee Drowning
JACKSONVILLE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited North Florida Shipyards Inc., a shipbuilding and repair company, after an employee suffered fatal injuries at its Commodores Point facility in Jacksonville, Florida. The shipyard faces $271,061 in proposed penalties.
The worker drowned after a pressurized air manifold struck him and knocked him into the St. Johns River. OSHA has cited the employer for safety violations, including exposing employees to being struck-by, drowning, amputation, caught-in, and electrical hazards; allowing scuba divers to be unaccompanied by another diver; and failing to ensure machine guarding.
“As this case demonstrates, it is important for employers to identify existing hazards, and follow required safety procedures to protect workers from serious injuries,” said OSHA Jacksonville Acting Area Office Director Buddy Underwood.
North Florida Shipyards has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education, and assistance. For more information, visit https://www.osha.gov.
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Search efforts have ended for a 34-year-old employee who fell into the St. Johns River while working Sunday for the North Florida Shipyards, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
A co-worker reported seeing Padmore K. Atakorah of Raindrop Road working on an air pressure valve at the East Adams Street facility downtown before hearing a loud noise about 1 p.m., according to the incident report. When he looked up he saw Atakorah in the river. He tried to throw him a rope several times but his co-worker went under and wasn’t seen surfacing.
Rescue, helicopter, marine and dive teams responded but were unable to find him. Atakorah is now listed as a missing person, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
North Florida Shipyards handles ship repair and conversion at its downtown and Mayport Naval Station locations and was founded in 1977, according to its website. Shipyard officials would not comment on the incident after its administrative office was reached by email and telephone Monday.