On Jan. 21, 2018, Padmore Atkorah fell into St.Johns River in Jacksonville Fla. after a pressures air manifold struck him.
Despite efforts to save Atkorah he never resurfaced. Now, OSHA has cited North Florida Shipyards Inc., his employer to the tune of $271,061 in proposed penalties.
“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, in a statement.
The shipbuilding and repair company exposed workers 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, according to investigators.
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.