OSHA Inspection: TYLER PIPE COMPANY

Issued

Nov 4, 2003

Abate by

Feb 6, 2004

Penalty

Initial $5,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employmnent 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 moving traffic while standing in a partially open land
directing traffic with a
flag.
At the North Plant of Tyler Pipe located at Highway 69 North, Tyler, Texas
75706.
There was no designated restricted zone around the bottom of the cupula
furnace, designed as
a spill containment area, exposing employees to the hazard of contact with
molten metal.
Feasible abatement methods could include but are not limited to:
1.  Implement measures to prevent employees from entering the hazardous
zones
around cupola
furnaces.
2.  As recommended by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
ANSI Z241.2
paragraph E.5.2.4.1, designate the area extending from the edge of the
cupola to a distance of
approximately 20-feet or 5 times the diameter of the crucible (whichever
is greater) radially from
the center of the cupola as a hazardous zone.  Outline the border of the
hazardous zone with a
physical barrier.
3.  As outlined by ANSI Z241.2, designate which employees will be
authorized to enter the
hazardous zone around the cupola.  Specify the tasks for which each of
these employees will be
responsible.  Restrict access to the hazardous zone to the authorized
entrants and allow them to
enter only to perform the designated authorized tasks.  Appropriate
personal protective
equipment should be worn when entering after November 25, 2003.