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OSHA News Release: [04/14/2003]
Region 6 News Release: OSHA-03-50
Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd
Phone Number: (214)767-4776, Ext. 222 or 221

OSHA Fines Tyler Pipe Co. of Tyler, Texas, $196,000 for Safety and Health Hazards

DALLAS—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced today that it issued citations to Tyler Pipe Co. for violations of health and safety requirements that put its employees in danger and imposed penalties of $196,000. In August 2002 the company, a division of Ransom Industries, paid $1 million for violating workplace safety and health standards.

“OSHA is holding Tyler Pipe accountable for the well being of their employees,” said John L. Henshaw, assistant secretary of labor for Occupational Safety and Health. “We expect them to step up to the plate and make their facility a safer place for their employees.”

OSHA issued the latest citations on April 11, 2003, to Tyler Pipe for 13 serious violations, four repeat violations and one other-than-serious violation from an OSHA inspection initiated Oct. 15, 2002, which was a follow-up to an inspection conducted in December 2000. The citations resulting from the Oct. 15 inspection also include citations resulting from an Oct. 29, 2002, accident at the facility that left an employee seriously injured.

The 13 serious violations address the company’s failure to provide protection, including rescue and responding services, for employees working in confined spaces. Other violations include failing to provide adequate fall protection, failure to observe lockout/tagout procedures, failure to repair and maintain safe aisles and passageways; failure to properly store stacked items and failure to properly mark motorized tools. A serious violation is cited when there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The four repeat violations were for failure to clearly outline energy control procedures; failure to inspect energy control procedures; failure to provide lockout/tagout procedures to employees regarding energy control, and failure to properly balance loads on lifting devices before being lifted. A repeat violation is when the same or similar violation for which the company has been previously cited is found again upon re-inspection.

Tyler Pipe agreed to pay the $196,000 in penalties, accept the violations and penalties as they were originally classified and to enter into a settlement agreement with OSHA with specific plans for enhancing the company’s safety and health programs. These plans include safety programs to cover independent contractors performing work at Tyler Pipe’s site and enhanced communication on safety responsibilities.

“Tyler Pipe representatives approached OSHA and agreed to make improvements to the company’s safety and health programs,” said Kathryn Delaney, OSHA’s area director in Dallas. “Progress is being made, and the company is cooperating with OSHA inspections.”

Tyler Pipe Co. casts and finishes gray-iron pipes and fittings for soil pipe and utility uses and employs approximately 1,600 workers at two plants in Tyler and one facility each in Pennsylvania, Missouri and California. The Tyler facility is organized into a north and south plant, each containing a casting and finishing area, as well as machine tooling and distribution departments.

OSHA is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and illnesses and protecting America’s workers. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

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