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Last updated on Friday, February 17, 2012
(JEFFERSONVILLE) (AP) - Jeffboat’s Ohio River shipyard faces nine federal workplace safety violations and a $119,000 fine after its third worker fatality in just over 15 months, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Thursday.
The citations include seven serious violations, when there's a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and one willful violation, committed while knowing or disregarding legal requirements or with plain indifference to worker safety and health, OSHA said.
The latest violations bring to 46 the number found against the company in five inspections since May 2010, when two workers fell to their deaths in separate incidents one week apart.
The latest death occurred Aug. 19 when Steve Duncan, 54, of Pekin, was crushed against a barge when a machine he was working on activated and raised him on a hydraulic jack. The other two workers who died fell to their deaths.
Jeffboat released a statement saying it's reviewing the violations.
"Jeffboat is fully committed to protecting the health and safety of our employees through appropriate equipment maintenance, training and adherence to OSHA regulations," the statement said.
Jeffboat has 15 business days to respond to OSHA.
The Jeffersonville shipyard employs about 700 workers making barges. It's owned by American Commercial Lines LLC of Jeffersonville.
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