Violations by Companies And Navy Led to Hawaii Worker Deaths, Says OSHA

A federal agency says workplace safety violations led to the deaths of two workers at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii last December.

Hawaii News Now reported that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed fines for two companies for the deaths of two men when a 7-ton buoy fell toward them.

The agency also accuses the U.S. Navy, which owns the ships, of three serious safety violations. It will not fine the Navy because federal agencies don’t fine each other.

OSHA regional director Jeff Romeo says the workers were directly underneath a heavy load, which violates federal regulations and industry standards.

OSHA cited subcontractor Healy Tibbitts Builders for five serious OSHA violations and proposed fines of $30,600.

The agency also proposed fines of $15,400 for three violations by Maryland-based Truston Technologies, the main contractor.