OSHA Inspection: SUPREME SERVICE & SPECIALTY CO INC THRU TUBING DIV

Issued

Mar 18, 2011

Abate by

Mar 24, 2011

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer does not
furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment
which
are free from
recognized hazards of being struck by metal parts under high pressure
which are causing or
likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:
This violation occurred on or about September 24,2010, in the outdoor
packer testing area where
employee(s) were exposed to being struck by the packer and/or the test
pipe during the 2500
p.s.i. nitrogen high pressure testing.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard would be:
1. Install a total enclosure around the test assembly table that would
withstand high
impact contact and ensure employee(s) remain outside the enclosure during
test
procedures, and
2. Permanently affix the legs of the testing table to the ground.
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 method.
Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the
abatement date the
employer must submit documentation describing the actions it is taking to
ensure employees
involved in the high pressure testing of packers are protected from being
struck by the packer
and/or test pipe in the event of failure.