Yesterday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced proposed fines of $16.6 million against the 3 construction companies and 14 contractors involved in the February 7th plant explosion at Kleen Energy Systems LLC in Middletown, Connecticut.

The workplace accident at the power plant construction site killed 6 workers and injured 50.  The accident occurred while the company attempted to clear a supply pipe of debris using flammable natural gas.

The fines come as a result of 371 accusations of workplace safety violations, including 225 considered to be willful.  Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis stated, “No operation and no deadline is worth cutting corners and costing a single human life”.