OSHA slaps $46,350 fine on Ocean Properties in death of worker at Regency
BAR HARBOR, June 21, 2025 - Ocean Properties, owner of the Bar Harbor Regency hotel, has been fined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for $46,350 in the death of a long-time employee when a hotel carport collapsed Feb. 24.
Mark A. King, 64, who was born in Old Town, worked for Ocean Properties Ltd. for more than 40 years and came to be known by colleagues as “Mr. Fix It,” according to his obituary.
In a report filed June 2, OSHA cited five violations it categorized as “serious.”
The report stated:
“The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his/her environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.”
“Employees working in areas where there was a possible danger of head injury from impact, or falling or flying objects, or from electrical shock and burns, were not protected by protective helmets.”
“An engineering survey was not performed by a competent person to determine the conditions of the framing floors and walls and the possibility of unplanned collapse of any portion of the structure prior to permitting employees to start demolition operations:
“During demolition, continuing inspections by a competent person were not made as the work progressed to detect hazards resulting from weakened or deteriorated floors, or walls, or loosened materials, and employees were also permitted to work where such hazards existed without being corrected by shoring, bracing, or other effective means.”
“Employees operated a JLG forklift during the demolition of a hotel carport without completing training and evaluation.”
The company was fined $78,023 initially. It was not clear why OSHA reduced it.
The hotel was closed for the winter when a carport canopy collapsed. First responders tried to rescue King from under the debris after the carport fell on him, but he was declared dead at the scene, according to town officials.
“Mark grew up with a strong work ethic and an unwavering commitment to those he cared for,” the obituary stated. “His hands could build, repair, and restore anything, but his greatest pride was in building a beautiful life for his family, no matter the cost.”
Ocean Properties, which owns more than 80 hotels in the U.S. and Canada, was founded by Bangor native Thomas Walsh, who opened his first hotel in Brewer in 1969. Walsh passed away in 2018, but the company continues to be run by his family.
Courtcon Inc., an electrical contracting company, was the subsidiary of Ocean Properties which was cited.
Bill Trotter of the Bangor Daily News first reported this story yesterday.
Though I am glad that OSHA listed several very serious violations that led to the preventable death ofthis fine, caring, hardworking person. The fine that Ocean Properties has to pay is a pittance.
Will Ocean really pay the fine .? They are suing the Town to get out of thousands of dollars of fines owed due to their failure to comply with the laws of Bar Harbor.
It is appalling that Ocean Properties doesn’t care that its hotels are deathtraps because they violate safety requirements.
It is clear the anyone is at risk who works at OPI or stays at their hotels.
This wonderful man deserved much, much better than being killed by the corporation for whom he devoted and sacrificed his life.
From Donna Karlson: a comma is needed to replace the period in first paragraph of my above post.