Northrop Gruman fights fines in death

Published 1:00 pm Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Northrop Gruman is appealing state-imposed penalties levied against the company for three safety violations in the accidental death of William Dayton on Feb. 6 at Nichols Brothers Boats Builders in Freeland.

The state Department of Labor and Industries cited the company for three serious safety violations with penalties totaling $1,500 after investigating the accident.

Dayton, 22, died when the drone helicopter fell on him from eight feet above the yard floor while workers were finishing work on the X-Craft, the high-speed experimental warship built for the Navy by Nichols.

Northop Gruman is the manufacturer of the helicopter drone that fell during an attempt to lift the unmanned craft from the holding area of the X-Craft Feb. 6. A representative from Northrop Gruman was on site at the Freeland boatyard at the time of the mishap.

Northrop Gruman was cited for three violations because its employee representative who was directing the Nichols crew did not correct the “hazardous lift.”

The company is represented by attorney Bruce Cross of the Seattle firm of Perkins Coie.

“Northrop Gruman is appealing the decision to the state Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals. We are in mediation at this time,” said Cross.

The state investigated the accident in the months following the accident at the Freeland boatyard.

Nichols Brothers was also assessed penalties after the accident.

The company was fined $4,500 and will not appeal, a company spokeswoman said earlier.

The next hearing date is Dec. 19 in Seattle, Cross said.