BATH — Bath Iron Works will contest a proposed fine of more than $171,000 from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), company and federal officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Representatives of BIW, a General Dynamics company, met informally on Friday with William Coffin, OSHA’s regional director for Maine, to further discuss the findings,
BIW spokesman Jim DeMartini said Wednesday. He said BIW will now submit a Letter of Contest regarding the proposed fines.
On April 2, BIW was notified of the proposed fines for alleged violations of workplace safety standards at the Bath shipyard.
The charges, resulting from an inspection that took place during October and November 2011, included “alleged repeat and serious violations of workplace safety standards at its Bath shipyard,” as well as lesser alleged violations.
The day after the fines were announced, BIW released the following statement: “General Dynamics Bath Iron Works has received the results of OSHA’s 17-day inspection of the shipyard conducted during October (and) November 2011. Immediate action was taken to correct items identified during the inspection and all items have since been abated. We are in the process of reviewing the details of the report and we intend to request an informal conference with OSHA officials to further discuss the inspection results.
“The safety of our employees is a top priority at BIW, and programs instituted over the last several years have enabled us to make good progress in reducing workplace injuries and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations. We will continue to emphasize safety in all aspects of our business and work with OSHA to further enhance the effectiveness of these programs.”
Coffin said Tuesday that BIW has until Monday — 15 business days from the date of the April 2 letter notifying the company of the proposed fines — to file the Letter of Contest.
If OSHA receives the letter, the matter would be forwarded directly to the OSHA Review Commission.
Before that, however, the Letter of Contest allows BIW to continue to work with Coffin on “ an informal settlement.”
At the time the proposed fines were announced, Coffin said BIW had made significant progress addressing safety issues since a 2007 inspection.
“We are continuing to emphasize safety in all areas of our business and will work with OSHA to further enhance the effectiveness of the programs we have in place,” DeMartini wrote in an email Wednesday to The Times Record.
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