Contractor Fined $280,000 for Fatal Accident

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development penalized a contractor $280,000 for four willful violations of state safety standards that resulted in a man’s death. Nicholson Tinker, 24, was killed Sept. 30, 2016, when a retaining wall collapsed and crushed him. The department said its investigation determined Tinker’s employer, North County Services and Mark Welty, failed to conduct a required engineering survey to assess the possibility of a collapse. The department also said Welty failed to ensure the structure was braced to prevent collapse. Welty also failed to pr...