Ship Building Company Cited for Safety Violations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a shipbuilder for safety violations that contributed to the death of one worker last August . The company Jeffboat LLC is one of the country’s largest inland ship builders.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched inspections of the company’s barge building facilities, after the death of a worker in August 19. The worker died when he became trapped between a transfer car and a barge.

The death was the third fatality at the facility since May 2010. That year, two other workers were killed in separate incidents on separate days. The first accident involved a worker who fell between the guardrails of a barge. In the second accident, a worker fell from a ladder, and sustained fatal injuries. OSHA conducted inspections of the facility, and the inspections have resulted in citations against Jeffboat. The agency says that it uncovered 46 violations during these inspections.

Jeffboat has been cited for its failure to properly install pendant controllers used to operate transfer cars. As a result of this improper installation, the pendant controllers were corroded, and malfunctioned. The company was also cited for failure to implement proper lockout procedures, failure to train employees, and failure to inspect transfer cars.

Workers in shipyards, ship building and ship repair facilities may be covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act. Compensation under the LHWCA can include medical expenses, and is paid directed by the employer or through an insurer. An injured maritime worker can avail of medical benefits for each of the injuries that he has suffered in the accident.

The maritime lawyers at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers represent stevedores, longshoremen, shipyard workers, and other maritime workers covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act.