OSHA Fines Houston Company $125K for Safety Violations

Federal safety regulators cited Tex-Tube Co. with 12 alleged serious, four alleged repeat and 10 alleged other-than-serious violations following an investigation at the company’s Houston, Texas, facility. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed penalties of $124,740.

OSHA’s Houston North office began its investigation on Oct. 5, 2010, at the company’s facility on North Post Oak Road, finding multiple safety and health violations. The inspection was part of OSHA’s Site-Specific Targeting Program, which directs enforcement resources to workplaces with higher-than-average injury and illness rates.

The serious violations include failing to cover floor openings to prevent falls, provide periodic testing of lockout/tagout procedures to prevent accidental energy start-up, have employees wear a seatbelt while operating a forklift and ensure electrical circuits on an overhead crane were enclosed.

Repeat violations include failing to develop procedures for the control of hazardous energy and failing to provide covers for junction boxes. These same violations were found during April 2007 and January 2006 OSHA inspections.

The other-than-serious violations include failing to properly complete OSHA occupational injury and illness forms, and to provide the required detailed information on the OSHA 300 log.

Tex-Tube Co., which employs about 170 workers and specializes in steel pipe manufacturing, has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s Houston North area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA