The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Piping Technology and Products Inc. for 13 willful and 17 serious violations for allegedly exposing workers to hazards at its Houston facility. OSHA has proposed penalties totalling $1,013,000.
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Download NowA worker at Piping Technology contacted OSHA earlier this year, alleging a lack of brakes on overhead cranes and unguarded presses at the company's facility on Holmes Road. This complaint triggered an investigation by OSHA's Houston South Area Office.
In addition to substantiating the complaint items, the inspection allegedly found additional safety hazards.
The 13 willful violations involve the failure to guard seven band saws and to lock out all of the sources of hazardous energy to six pieces of equipment before service and maintenance. Each citation carries a penalty of $70,000, for a total of $910,000.
The 17 serious violations, with penalties totaling $103,000, involve the failure to guard other machines and grinders properly, ensure that openings on electrical equipment were securely closed, provide fall protection training, and ensure that employees wore hard hats when exposed to overhead hazards.
OSHA has placed Piping Technology in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. Initiated in June 2010, the program focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations.
Piping Technology and Products has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Houston South area director or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.