The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) told News 3 it could take at least six months to investigate what led up to the deaths of two employees Wednesday at Marine Hydraulics International’s Norfolk facility.
When speaking with News 3 crews Wednesday, workers coming in and out of the facility described the incident as a “freak accident” that doesn’t normally happen.
Watch: 2nd shipyard worker dies following reported industrial accident at Marine Hydraulics in Norfolk
Shipyard in Norfolk where two men died had previous OSHA violations
Jim Blando, assistant professor and chair of the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Environmental Health Department at Old Dominion University, told News 3’s Jay Greene OSHA prioritizes their inspections. One category may be IDLH or immediately dangerous life and health—a top priority.
“The law requires that employers who have someone who gets killed at work must notify OSHA within eight hours, and I think OSHA is very prompt in getting out on site to do an inspection and see what happens,” Blando said. “The regulation requires that any inpatient hospitalization of an employee, an amputation or loss of an eye that they have to notify OSHA within 24 hours, and then, similarly, OSHA will very promptly get out on site.”