OSHA Cites Contractor After Worker’s Death During Underwater Test
Coastal Gunite Construction faces four serious violations and $40,329 in proposed penalties.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Dec 17, 2024
OSHA has cited Coastal Gunite Construction Co. for multiple safety violations following the death of a 47-year-old diver at North Carolina’s Manns Harbor Bridge in June 2024.
According to a recent release, a four-member dive team employed by the Maryland-based contractor was conducting an underwater test on the worker’s first day on the job. Shortly after descending to about 19 feet, the diver became unresponsive. Team members quickly retrieved the diver from the water and performed CPR until emergency services arrived. Despite their efforts, the worker could not be revived.
OSHA investigators determined Coastal Gunite failed to evaluate the diver’s physical fitness for the job, a key safety requirement in commercial diving. First aid supplies and a manual resuscitator were also not readily available at the worksite. The agency found that Coastal Gunite improperly positioned the air intake, failed to conduct regular air purity tests on compressor systems and did not perform annual air hose pressure tests.
“Ensuring employees are physically fit for commercial diving is a fundamental part of workplace safety,” OSHA Area Office Director Kim Morton in Raleigh, North Carolina, said in a statement. “Employers have a duty to protect their workers by implementing strict safety protocols and thorough pre-employment evaluations, particularly in high-risk industries like commercial diving. This tragic incident could have been prevented.”
OSHA cited Coastal Gunite for four serious violations and proposed $40,329 in penalties, the maximum allowable under federal law. The company has 15 business days to comply, contest the findings, or request an informal conference with OSHA.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.