OSHA finds shipyard
workers repeatedly exposed to life-threatening safety and health hazards at Norfolk, Virginia, facility. Ship repair company fined $101,000 for violations
NORFOLK, Va. – While welding the
frame of a U.S. Navy vessel, a shipyard worker was just 1 foot away from three
open manholes that exposed the employee to potential falls of up to 30 feet. These, and other alleged safety and health
hazards, were cited against Colonna's Shipyard Inc., a ship repair facility in
Norfolk, following a May 2014 inspection conducted by the U.S. Department of
Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Initiated as part of the agency's Local Emphasis Program* on shipbuilding and
repair, OSHA's investigation found 12 safety and health violations, including
four repeat. The company faces $101,000 in proposed penalties.
"Shipyard work is traditionally hazardous, with an injury
and accident rate more than twice that of construction and general
industry," said Dan DeWease, director of OSHA's Norfolk Area Office.
"Colonna's Shipyard must do a better job of protecting workers from the
dangers associated with this type of work. With the right safeguards, accidents
are preventable."
In addition to the unguarded manholes, OSHA inspectors
determined that fall protection was not provided for employees working on a
barge, which exposed them to a potential fall of more than 18 feet. Inspectors
also found that, because of defective equipment, employees were exposed to a
number of electrical hazards while welding. Having been previously cited for similar hazards in 2010, the
company received four repeat citations, carrying an $85,000 penalty. A repeat
violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a
similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other
facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.
Colonna's Shipyard was also cited for four serious violations,
with a $16,000 penalty, for expecting workers to use damaged electrical
equipment and unguarded machinery. A serious violation occurs when there is
substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a
hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. Four additional
violations were cited for other guarding, electrical and fire extinguisher
hazards.
OSHA has created a Stop
Falls Web page with detailed information in English and Spanish on fall
protection standards. The page offers fact sheets, posters and videos that
vividly illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures.
For more information on maritime safety, visit: http://go.usa.gov/sygG.
To see the citations, visit: http://go.usa.gov/syYh* and http://go.usa.gov/syg4*.
Colonna's Shipyard, which performs repairs on U.S. Navy
vessels, tugboats, barges and ferryboats, has 15 business days from receipt of
its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet informally with OSHA's
area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety
and Health Review Commission.
To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a
complaint or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing
imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at
800-321-OSHA (6742) or the Norfolk Area Office at 757-441-3820.
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 http://www.osha.gov.
FALLS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN CONSTRUCTION.
In 2013†,
there were 294 fall fatalities (284 falls to lower level) out of 796 total
fatalities in construction. These deaths are preventable.
† 2013 Bureau of Labor Statistics are preliminary
Falls can be prevented and lives can be saved through three
simple steps:
This website is part of OSHA's nationwide outreach campaign to
raise awareness among workers and employers about the hazards of falls from
ladders, scaffolds and roofs. The educational resources page gives workers and
employers information about falls and how to prevent them. There are also
training tools for employers to use and posters to display at their worksites.
Many of the new resources target vulnerable workers with limited English
proficiency.
We invite you to join in this effort by helping to reach
workers and employers in your community with the resources you find on this
site. OSHA will continue to add information and tools to this page throughout
the year.
OSHA has partnered with the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health and National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) -
Construction Sector on this nationwide outreach campaign to raise awareness
among workers and employers about common fall hazards in construction, and how
falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs can be prevented and lives can be
saved. Here's how:
PLAN ahead to get the job done safely
When working from heights, such as ladders, scaffolds, and
roofs, employers must plan projects to ensure that the job is done safely.
Begin by deciding how the job will be done, what tasks will be involved, and
what safety equipment may be needed to complete each task.
When estimating the cost of a job, employers should include
safety equipment, and plan to have all the necessary equipment and tools
available at the construction site. For example, in a roofing job, think about
all of the different fall hazards, such as holes or skylights and leading
edges, then plan and select fall protection suitable to that work, such as
personal fall arrest systems (PFAS).
PROVIDE the right equipment
Workers who are six feet or more above lower levels are at risk
for serious injury or death if they should fall. To protect these workers,
employers must provide fall protection and the right equipment for the job,
including the right kinds of ladders, scaffolds, and safety gear.
Different ladders and scaffolds are appropriate for different
jobs. Always provide workers with the kind they need to get the job done
safely. For roof work, there are many ways to prevent falls. If workers use
personal fall arrest systems (PFAS), provide a harness for each worker who
needs to tie off to the anchor. Make sure the PFAS fits, and regularly inspect
all fall protection equipment to ensure it's still in good condition and safe
to use.
TRAIN everyone to use the equipment safely
Falls can be prevented when workers understand proper set-up
and safe use of equipment, so they need training on the specific equipment they
will use to complete the job. Employers must train workers in hazard recognition and in the
care and safe use ladders, scaffolds, fall protection systems, and other
equipment they'll be using on the job.
OSHA has provided numerous materials and resources
that employers can use during toolbox talks to train workers on safe practices
to avoid falls in construction. Falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs can be
prevented and lives can be saved through three simple steps: Plan, Provide and
Train.
Nov. 19, 2014
Mobile, Alabama-based shipbuilder cited for serious safety
and health violations Company cited 3 times in the last 5 years
MOBILE, Ala. – Austal USA LLC was cited by the U.S. Department
of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 12 safety and
health violations that involved fall and other hazards following a May 2014
complaint regarding the Mobile shipbuilder's facility. Proposed penalties total
$41,500.
"The government expects that contractors, such as Austal,
should not only deliver a good product, but also conduct operations in a safe
manner," said Joseph Roesler, OSHA's area director in Mobile. "The
lack of attention to safety and health issues unnecessarily exposed employees
to hazards at the Mobile facility, and these hazards need to be addressed and
controlled throughout the shipbuilding process."
Nine serious citations were issued for lack of standard
railings on all staircases, which exposed workers to fall*
hazards; improperly secured gas cylinders; and failure to reduce the pressure
in a compressed air device to less than 30-pounds-per-square inch when
cleaning. OSHA also cited the company for allowing worker overexposure to copper fumes during welding operations. Other
citations included failure to ensure workers followed safety procedures to
prevent accidental machine startup and to protect workers from unguarded machinery.
Three other citations were issued for using temporary flexible
cable instead of permanent wiring, improperly labeling hazardous chemicals and
failure to ensure that temporary wiring was not damaged. A serious violation
occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical
harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have
known.
OSHA has cited this facility three times in the past five years. The
company was issued citations for improper use of slings and maritime gear, poor
walking and working surfaces, a lack of accident prevention signage and electrical
hazards.
Austal USA is a global contractor, designer and manufacturer of
defense and commercial ships. The company has 15 business days from receipt of
its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with
OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational
Safety and Health Review Commission.
To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a
complaint or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing
imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at
800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Mobile Area Office at 251-441-6131.
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 http://www.osha.gov.
###