Texas Firm Fined $116.5K by OSHA

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Industrial Pipe Fittings LLC (IPF) for 47 alleged serious and four alleged other-than-serious violations following an inspection at the company’s facility in Corsicana, Texas. Proposed penalties total $116,500.

OSHA’s Fort Worth Area Office began its inspection on April 20 when a worker had his hand crushed in-between a rotating, unguarded drum drive wheel and pipe while performing an overwrapping operation at the drum drive wheel machine station. The serious violations include failing to provide machine guarding on lathes, drum drive wheels and saws; provide fall protective equipment, ensure workers are protected from electrical hazards, provide training for forklift operations and hazard communication.

The other-than-serious violations included failing to meet OSHA’s respiratory requirements by informing workers of the precautions and use of wearing a respirator and failing to provide a written personal protective equipment hazard assessment.

Houston-based IPF has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s Fort Worth area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA, www.osha.gov