EnergySolutions Fined $6,450 for Erwin Worker Death

The Tennessee Division of Occupational Safety and Health (TOSHA) has fined EnergySolutions $6,450 for violations related to the worker fatality at its Erwin facility, according to a March 2 report released yesterday. The report determined that EnergySolutions committed two ‘serious’ violations related to the Oct. 14 death. “It was determined that Erwin ResinSolutions was insufficient in guarding the floor hole into which an employee could accidentally walk,” the report said. “Although they had a company policy on fall protection and provided fall protection equipment, it was determined that the company did not adequately communicate the standard to their employees. In addition, the company did not provide periodic inspections to ensure that the company policy was being followed.”

 

Following the accident in October, EnergySolutions suspended operations so it could conduct an internal investigation into the cause of the death. The company concluded, along with TOSHA, that it could safely restart the facility and resume operations under EnergySolutions management in January. According to EnergySolutions spokesman Mark Walker, the company has been working with TOSHA to take corrective actions. “We received notification today from TOSHA of its findings regarding the Erwin accident,” Walker said. “Throughout the investigation we have worked closely with TOSHA and have already implemented all required corrective actions.  We will work with TOSHA over the next twenty days to finalize this matter.”