OSHA Inspection: VALLEY STEEL PRODUCTS COMPANY

Issued

May 19, 1987

Abate by

Jul 20, 1987

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $630

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were
free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to:
...the hazard of being struck by falling sections of fabricated pipe
in the main Pipe Fabrication Shop, due to failure of the tack-welded
straight and circumferential seams of such fabricated pipe when
subjected to the static and dynamic loads encountered during handling
and VSP machine welding procedures.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is as follows:
1) Development of detailed written procedures for the fabrication of
pipe sections by welding that will specify the following:
a) The sequence in which welds are to be made on fabricated pipe.
b) The percentage of weld that must be completed on fabricated pipe
sections to assure they can withstand the static and dynamic loads
encountered with an appropriate factor of safety during their
handling and transport without experiencing failure. Factors that
need to be considered in making this determination include minimum
standards for tack weld quality, linear weld length to total seam
length ratios, and weld depth criteria.
c) Handling and transport procedures for welded pipe sections including
methods for proper support of these sections during transport.
d) Hazards associated with transfer of pipe sections that have been
improperly welded or supported.
2) Instruct and train all affected management, supervisory and operating
personnel in these procedures.
3) Periodically evaluate these procedures to determine their continued
adequacy. Any changes to these procedures should be thoroughly
documented and reviewed. Personnel shall be trained in any revisions
along with the reasons for them before they ae implemented.
DISCLAIMERS:
1) You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all
cases.
3) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate abatement method.

Issued

Apr 13, 1987

Abate by

Apr 15, 1987

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $630

Issued

Apr 13, 1987

Abate by

Jun 15, 1987

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $630