Phillip Vargas, ILWU Local 29
A Seattle company was fined more than $200,000 for multiple safety violations that resulted in the death of a longshoreman at the Port of San Diego in January.Phillip Vargas, 54, was killed on Jan. 3 in an industrial accident at the 10th Street Terminal at the Port of San Diego.
SSA Pacific Inc, a division of SSA Marine, was issued six citations with penalties totaling $205,235.
One of the citations was for a willful-serious violation stating SSA Pacific did not make sure its employees did safety checks for forklifts at the beginning of each shift. Cal/OSHA officials said the company was cited for a similar violation in 2016 following an inspection at the Port of Long Beach.
Family members said Vargas was a third-generation longshoreman who had worked on the waterfront since the age of 16. He was a heavy lift operator and instructor at the time of his death.
