(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a shipyard company after workers were exposed to fire and asphyxiation hazards while working aboard a docked Great Lakes iron ore carrier, Business Insurance reported.
OSHA cited South Marine Systems of Westlake, Ohio, for 15 “serious” violations and one “other than serious” violation and proposed $164,540 in penalties. The company “narrowly avoided disaster after a large fire erupted as (workers) welded off paint in a cargo hold” of Cuyahoga, according to OSHA.
The incident occurred in March at the Port of Ashtabula in Ohio. Cuyahoga is owned by Lower Lakes Towing Ltd.
OSHA said South Marine failed to designate a “competent person” to identify hazards and failed to have a marine chemist on board to test for hazardous atmospheres before the welding work commenced.
The agency ordered South Marine to review its training program and work operations to ensure work crews recognize hazards and safely respond to emergencies.
