Region 6 News Release:   OSHA-01-89
August 1, 2001
Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd
Phone: (214) 767-4776, ext. 222 or 221

ORANGE SHIPBUILDING IN ORANGE, TEXAS, HAS AGREED TO PAY $149,850 IN FINES AND ABATE VIOLATIONS FOUND DURING AN OSHA INSPECTION

DALLAS-Orange Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of Conrad Industries Inc., in Orange, Texas, has agreed to pay $149,850 in fines and abate violations found during an inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The inspection, based on a complaint, began Feb. 2, 2001.

Orange Shipbuilding employs about 125 workers at its division in Orange. Its parent company, Conrad Industries Inc., is based in Morgan City, La., and employs about 300 employees nationwide.

Among the violations found by OSHA at the Orange, Texas, facility were failure to provide guardrails around large openings and stair rails on stairs; failure to perform a hazard assessment to determine appropriate personal protective equipment; failure to inspect hoisting or rigging equipment; failure to ensure that respirators were properly fitted to an employee's face; and failure to have employees medically evaluated prior to using the respirators. In addition employees were exposed to damaged electrical cords, live electrical parts, unguarded machinery and lights, tripping hazards and improperly stored flammable and combustible materials.

A violation was also issued for failing to record injuries and illnesses which were occurring at the facility on the OSHA 200 Log. Injuries and illnesses such as burns, fractures, lacerations resulting in sutures, chemical exposures and heat exhaustion are required to be recorded.

"In addition to paying the penalty, the company has agreed to correct all violations, hire a full-time safety and health professional and hire an outside auditor to audit their OSHA 200 logs for three years," said Ray Skinner, area director of the OSHA Houston south area office.

Employers and employees with questions regarding safety and health standards may contact the OSHA Houston south area office at (281) 286-0583, or OSHA's toll-free hotline at 1-800-321-6742, to report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers.