OSHA Inspection: TRANS TEXAS GAS CORPORATION

Issued

Jun 4, 1996

Abate by

Jun 22, 1996

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced

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 pipe:
At the Trans Texas Gas Corporation pipe yard in Laredo, Texas, employees
are
exposed to the hazard of unsecured pipe loads rolling off of trucks and
striking
employees during loading and unloading operations.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is:
To establish and enforce a mandatory inspection procedure of incoming and
outgoing pipe shipments.  Such a procedure must include, as a minimum, the
following elements:
a.Development of a written safety program regarding pipe yard hazards and
addressing the "proper guidelines" in the employer's Materials Handling
manual.
b.Training of employees on the "proper guidelines" of handling pipes and
tubular material at both the pipe yard and remote areas under the
employer's control.
c.Establishment of a strict requirement that all incoming and outgoing pipe
shipments are subjected to a safety inspection prior to acceptance or
dispatch.
d.Maintain written records of safety inspections of incoming and dispatched
pipe loads subject to periodic safety department audit.
IN THE ALTERNATIVE:
29 CFR 1910.176(b):  Storage of material shall not create a hazard.  Bags,
containers, bundles,
etc., stored in tiers shall be stacked, blocked, interlocked and limited
in height so that they are
stable and secure against sliding or collapse:
At this jobsite, employees load and unload tubular goods such as pipes of
various
diameters and dimensions which are not always blocked or chocked to
prevent a
pipe from rolling off and striking an employee.

Issued

Jun 4, 1996

Abate by

Jun 27, 1996

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced