OSHA Inspection: WHITEWATER ENGINEERING CORPORATION

Issued

Oct 5, 1999

Abate by

Oct 8, 1999

Penalty

Initial $42,000 · Current $21,000 Reduced

Emphasis program

X

General-duty citation text

AS 18.60.075(a)(4): An employer shall do everything necessary to protect the lif
e, health and safety of employees including, but not limited to furnishing to ea
ch of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from rec
ognized hazards which, in the opinion of the commissioner, are causing or are li
kely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees. EXAMPLE: 1. White
water Engineering, Inc., the employer, willfully disregarded its responsibility
to prevent accidents when it had its employees and subcontractor employees work
in surroundings which were dangerous to their safety. Specifically, the employer
willfully exposed employees at Power Creek Hydroelectric Power Project in Cordo
va, Alaska to a known avalanche hazard. An employee was killed when an avalanche
occurred.
2. In addition, the employer willfully failed to initiate and maintain an Avalan
che Control Program for the work site, and failed to take action on the findings
of an avalanche hazard survey conducted five weeks prior to the fatal accident.
The survey specifically outlined a proposed avalanche control program that woul
d have mitigated the hazard of avalanche to the employees at the work site. 3. F
urthermore, the employer willfully failed to have a competent person, trained in
avalanche hazard recognition, to conduct frequent and regular inspections of th
e worksite.

Issued

Oct 5, 1999

Abate by

Oct 8, 1999

Penalty

Initial $42,000 · Current $21,000 Reduced

Emphasis program

X