3 construction companies and 14 contractors are facing $16.6 million in fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for “blatantly disregarding industry procedures designed to safeguard workers” resulting in the Kleen Energy Systems LLC power plant construction site explosion that occurred on February 7th.

The accident happened when the company was attempting to clean a supply pipe of debris using flammable natural gas. Six workers were killed and fifty were injured in the explosion.

The fines against the construction companies and contractors come after 371 accusations of workplace safety violations, including 225 considered to be willful. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis argues, “No operation and no deadline is worth cutting corners and costing a single human life”.