The Guam Shipyard has been fined $291,000 in connection to a fatal accident last November at the Guam Port Authority dock. Federal safety regulators found that the death of a rigger could have been prevented had the company followed legally required safety standards for operating cranes.

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation report provided details of the accident. The rigger who died was among the Guam Shipyard workers assigned to remove a 100-foot high Port Authority gantry crane. He was waiting on an elevated platform while two welders were cutting one leg of the crane.

According to OSHA, as it was cut the full weight caused the crane's boom to bend, snapping a cable, and allowing the load to swing and fatally strike the rigger. The investigation also found that on the morning of the incident, workers raised concerns that the load was too heavy for the crane and suggested cutting the load into pieces.

But company management reportedly instructed employees to remove the leg in one piece.

In a statement, OSHA area director Roger Forstner said, “Guam Shipyard could have prevented this crane failure and its tragic outcome by ensuring effective and necessary training, procedures and work practices were provided and followed. The company’s leadership was made aware of their crew’s safety concerns, yet failed to safeguard its employees as the law requires.”

Following the incident, OSHA launched a crane safety initiative in Guam to enhance safety measures and protect workers against crane hazards.

Guam Shipyard now has 15 business days to respond or contest the findings.