OSHA Inspection: NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY

Issued

Jul 26, 2007

Abate by

Aug 13, 2007

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

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 struck by:
a)   Northwest Pipe Company, 6030 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO:
Located on conveyor control box station A&B, function buttons were not
clearly
labeled to indicate their purpose.  Condition exposed employees to "struck
by"
hazards due to accidental movement of pipe and/or conveyor.
b)  Located at control box station B&C, function buttons were not clearly
labeled
to indicate the purpose. Condition exposed employees to "struck by"
hazards due
to accidental movement of pipe and/or conveyor.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct hazards listed
hazards listed
in paragraphs a) and b) above is to follow the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers
publication, ASME B20.1-2000 ensuring that control stations are clearly
marked or labeled to
indicate the function controlled as found in paragraph 5.11.2 titled
Control Station.
c) Located in the Spiral mill building, the disconnected function buttons
were not
removed from control conveyor panel "B&C" thus exposing operators/employees
to confusion and delay in responding to an emergency situation.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct the hazard listed
in paragraph c) above is to follow the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers publication,
ASME B20.1-2000 ensuring that inactive and unused actuators, controllers,
and wiring be
removed from control stations and panel boards, together with obsolete
diagrams, indicators,
control labels, and other material that might confuse the operator.
d)  The employer had not ensured that prior to the startup of conveyors
"A",
"B", and "C" in the spiral mill building, an appropriate warning system
was in
place to alert employees of imminent movement.  On or about 3/16/2007 an
employee of the company was seriously injured after being struck by a
50-foot
long by 84-inch diameter pipe during the startup of the "A" conveyor line.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct the hazard in
paragraph d) is to adopt the American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME
B20.1-2000 titled
Safety Standard for Conveyors and Related Equipment. Specifically,
paragraph 5.11.2(b) states
the following:  "A conveyor that would cause injury when started shall not
be started until
personnel in the area are alerted by a signal or by a designated person
that the conveyor is about
to start".
e)  Located in the Spiral Mill building, control panels "A&B" and B&C were
wired/configured in such a way to allow operators to "reset" or "restart"
conveyors "A","B" and "C" that had been stopped due to activation of
emergency
stop light sensors without knowing if an employee was in the path of
conveyor
travel.
Among other methods, on feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct the hazard listed
in paragraph e) above is to adopt the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers ASME B20.1-
2000 titled Safety Standard for Conveyors and Related Equipment.
Specifically, paragraph
5.11.4 states the following: "Conveyor controls shall be so arranged that,
in case of emergency
stop, manual reset or start at the location where the emergency stop was
initiated shall be
required for the conveyor(s) and associated equipment to resume
operation".
f) The employer had not ensured that operators of the conveyor control
stations,
("A&B" "B&C"), located in the Spiral Mill building, physically inspected
conveyors prior to restarting those where movement had stopped possibly
due to
activation of an emergency light sensor(s). Employees are instructed to
push the
"reset" button on the conveyor control panel in the event that conveyors
will not
start for reasons unknown.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct the hazard listed
in paragraph f) above is to adopt the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers ASME B20.1-
2000 titled Safety Standard for Conveyors and Related Equipment.
Specifically, paragraph
5.11.4 states the following: "Before restarting a conveyor that has been
stopped because of an
emergency, an inspection of the conveyor shall be made and the cause of
the stoppage
determined".
g)  Located in the Spiral mill building, the employer had not ensured that
devices
were installed on the north side of the "A" conveyor line to stop conveyor
movement in the event of an emergency.  On or about 3/16/2007, an employee
of the company was seriously injured after being struck by a 50-foot long
X 84-
inch diameter pipe being moved by the "A" conveyor line.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to adopt the American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME B20.1-2000
titled Safety
Standard for Conveyors and Related Equipment.  Specifically, paragraph
5.11.2(c) states the
following: "Remotely and automatically controlled conveyors, and conveyors
where operator
stations are not manned or are beyond voice or visual contact from drive
areas, loading areas,
transfer points, and other potentially hazardous locations on the conveyor
path not guarded by
location, position, or guards, shall be furnished with emergency stop
buttons, pull cords, limit
switches, or similar emergency stop devices.
h)  Located in the Spiral mill building, the employer had not placed an
appropriate warning to restrict access into the hazardous area of the "A"
conveyor
line.  On or about 3/16/2007, an employee was seriously injured after
entering
the path of travel on "A" conveyor
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to adopt the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME B20.1-2000.
Paragraph 5.13
states the following: "In the absence of a guard or barrier specifically
erected to protect
personnel, warnings shall be provided to restrict unauthorized personnel
from entering hazardous
loading, unloading and transfer areas.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (See
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").

Issued

Jul 26, 2007

Abate by

Aug 8, 2007

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,750 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 struck by:
a)   Northwest Pipe Company, 6030 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO:  The
employer had not ensured that devices were installed on the north side of
the
"A"
conveyor line to stop conveyor movement in the event of an emergency.  On
or
about 3/16/2007, an employee of the company was seriously injured after
being
struck by a 50-foot long X 84-inch diameter pipe being moved by the "A"
conveyor line.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to adopt the American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME
B20.1-2000 titled Safety Standard for Conveyors and Related Equipment.
Specifically, paragraph 5.11.2(c) states the following: "Remotely and
automatically controlled conveyors, and conveyors where operator stations
are not
manned or are beyond voice or visual contact from drive areas, loading
areas,
transfer points, and other potentially hazardous locations on the conveyor
path not
guarded by location, position, or guards, shall be furnished with
emergency stop
buttons, pull cords, limit switches, or similar emergency stop devices.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is not required for this item.

Issued

Jul 26, 2007

Abate by

Aug 28, 2007

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,500 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 crushing injuries:
a)   Northwest Pipe Company, 6030 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO:
Located in the Spiral Mill building, control panels "A&B" and B&C were
wired/configured in such a way to allow operators to "reset" or "restart"
conveyors "A","B" and "C" that had been stopped due to activation of
emergency
stop light sensors without knowing if an employee was in the path of
conveyor
travel.
b)  The employer had not ensured that operators of conveyor control
stations
("A&B" "B&C") physically inspected conveyors prior to restarting those
where
movement had stopped possibly due to activation of an emergency light
sensor(s).
Employees are instructed to push the "reset" button on the conveyor
control panel
in the event that conveyors will not start for reasons unknown.
Among other methods, on feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct
the hazard listed in paragraph a) above is to adopt the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers ASME B20.1-2000 titled Safety Standard for Conveyors
and Related Equipment. Specifically, paragraph 5.11.4 states the following:
"Conveyor controls shall be so arranged that, in case of emergency stop,
manual
reset or start at the location where the emergency stop was initiated
shall be
required for the conveyor(s) and associated equipment to resume
operation".
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
the hazard listed in paragraph b) above is to adopt the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers ASME B20.1-2000 titled Safety Standard for Conveyors
and Related Equipment.  Specifically, paragraph 5.11.4 states the
following:
"Before restarting a conveyor that has been stopped because of an
emergency, an
inspection of the conveyor shall be made and the cause of the stoppage
determined".
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (See
enclosed "Sample
Abatement-Certification Letter").-Certification

Issued

Jul 26, 2007

Abate by

Aug 3, 2007

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,500 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 crushing injuries:
a)   Northwest Pipe Company, 6030 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO:
Located in the Spiral mill building, the employer had not placed an
appropriate
warning to restrict access into the hazardous area of the "A" conveyor
line.  On
or about 3/16/2007, an employee was seriously injured after entering the
path of
travel on "A" conveyor
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to adopt the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME
B20.1-2000.  Paragraph 5.13 states the following: "In the absence of a
guard or
barrier specifically erected to protect personnel, warnings shall be
provided to
restrict unauthorized personnel from entering hazardous loading, unloading
and
transfer areas.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (See
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").

Issued

Jul 26, 2007

Abate by

Aug 8, 2007

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,125 Reduced

Issued

Jul 26, 2007

Abate by

Aug 8, 2007

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,875 Reduced

Issued

Jul 26, 2007

Abate by

Aug 13, 2007