Ricks Recycling Inc: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Jun 23, 2003: Employee sustains burns in explosion

On June 23, 2003, Employee #1 was working at a recycling and scrap metal salvage center that handles piping removed from petroleum extraction fields. Employee # 1 was oxygen-fuel gas cutting a 40-ft length of oil field pipe that was capped a t each end by gate valves. The employer did not have an established safety progr am or employee training in hazard assessment, and did not establish effective pr ocedures for addressing hazards associated with hot processes. The pipe was orie nted on the ground with one end elevated. The normal procedure was to make a cut at the lower end of the pipe then cut the upper section. Employee #1 started to cut into the top section and stopped prior to penetrating. Employee #1 then cut into the lower section, which created a release under pressure of ignited liqui d and gases. The force of release knocked Employee #1 to the ground where he sus tained burns to his right upper shoulder and arm. Employee #1 sustained third-de gree burns to the upper body and was hospitalized.