OSHA Cites Louisiana Company Over Worker’s Death

The U.S. Labor Department has cited New Iberia-based Estis Well Service LLC for alleged safety violations stemming from the death of a worker near Bayou Sorrel.

The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Tuesday that it has proposed more than $132,000 in penalties following its probe of Skye Sonnier’s death.

OSHA said a rig mounted on a barge tipped over and crushed Sonnier to death on March 9.

The agency says the alleged violations include the company’s failure to provide systems to protect employees from falling while working on an elevated drill floor.

An OSHA official says the company “willfully jeopardized the safety of its employees.”

Estis Well Service, which employs about 44 workers, has 15 business days to comply with or contest the citations.