BATH – Bath Iron Works, local unions and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have agreed to a new nonbinding initiative to eliminate workplace injuries at the shipyard.

The voluntary agreement, which OSHA says has never been tried before in Maine, includes a commitment by the Navy shipbuilder to implement comprehensive safety and health programs at all of its work sites.

BIW also agrees to study work-force injuries and illnesses, and will continue to provide relevant injury and illness data to OSHA.

OSHA officials will meet quarterly with BIW officials and the shipbuilder’s four unions to assist with safety training and technical advice, and to be updated on how safety and health programs are being implemented.

Monday’s announcement came just three days after OSHA announced a proposed $114,000 in penalties for 34 “serious” violations and one repeat violation at BIW’s Hardings Plant, its East Brunswick Manufacturing Facility, and its Consolidated Warehouse in Brunswick.

Ted Fitzgerald, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Labor, said the inspection, concluded in February, found safety violations ranging from unsafe moving machine parts to a crane that had brake problems and forklift operators who were not wearing seat belts.

Those fines are separate from the penalties that OSHA proposed in October, when the shipyard was cited for 50 alleged violations. That proposed $201,775 fine was reduced to $85,000.

Mike Keenan, president of Local S6 of the Machinists Union, said he had some reservations but figured the agreement was worth a try.

“It doesn’t make the past any better, but hopefully it will make our future good. When a company gets a $200,000 fine, that is not good,” Keenan said.

“We certainly want to work on making a bright future for our employees because the past was pretty bleak.”