Shoreline Foundation exposes workers to drowning and other hazards

Employer name: Shoreline Foundation Inc.

Inspection site: 2781 SW 56th Avenue, Pembroke Park, Florida 33023

Date inspection initiated: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated the Dec. 18, 2014, inspection after receiving a complaint alleging workplace hazards.

Inspection findings: OSHA issued the employer 12 serious and three other-than-serious safety violations. The violations include: failing to ensure workers were trained to perform diving operations; not training divers in CPR; failing to ensure the two-way voice communication system for divers was operational; lack of air purity tests for the compressor used by divers; and not ensuring divers wore safety harnesses while performing diving operations.

Quote: "This inspection has identified several safety hazards that put workers at risk of drowning or serious injury," said Condell Eastmond, OSHA's area director in Ft. Lauderdale. "Shoreline management must follow OSHA standards and fulfill its responsibility to protect employees from workplace hazards."

Proposed penalties: $83,600

The citations can be viewed at: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/OSHA20151119fs.pdf

Shoreline Foundation Inc. specializes in marine, heavy highway and deep foundation construction services. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Ft. Lauderdale Area Office at 954-424-0242.