ABERDEEN — The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has fined a pontoon builder $170,000 for safety violations uncovered after a crane accident at Aberdeen.
A 6-ton counterweight broke loose from a crane tower in June and fell 20 feet to the ground, narrowly missing two workers.
The department cited Kiewit General Joint Venture for failing to follow several of the manufacturer’s equipment recommendations and for not following recommended procedures.
Kiewit says it cooperated with investigators and changed procedures. However, it disagrees with the state calling some of the violations “willful” and is considering whether to contest the penalties.
The Aberdeen operation built some of the pontoons for the new Highway 520 floating bridge under construction on Lake Washington at Seattle.
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