U. S. Pipe: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Jan 11, 2022: Employee punctures elbow when struck by falling iron pipe

At 12:25 p.m. on January 11, 2022, an employee was engaged in "rolling" 8 inch diameter iron pipe sections along rails to an area where they could be lifted via forklift and moved to another area of the plant. The employee was waiting for pipe to be deposited from a higher level via a cart that dumped the pipe onto an arm and clamp machine which lowered them to the rails. The arm and clamp machine was operated by a coworker on the upper level. The machine uses hydraulics to raise and lower the pipe sections and is equipped with an audible alarm and light system to warn employees of pipe sections being lowered. Two sections of pipe successfully came off of the clamp and onto the rails while one section was hung up and still on the arms. The coworker hit the notification system and operated the machine to attempt to lower the hung up section of pipe when it somehow fell off of the arms. The pipe bounced and struck the employee on his right elbow which he was using to hold the other two sections of pipe back on the rails. The employee incurred a puncture wound and arterial damage to his right arm at the elbow, requiring hospitalization.

Incident on Aug 27, 2021: Employee sustains electric shock from crane control pendant

At 11:15 p.m. on August 27, 2021, an employee was working as a molding machine operator for an iron foundry. The employee was breaking up pieces of metal slag in tubs located underneath the "Charlie" or C casting machine in a pit filled with water. After being broken up inside the tubs, a Harrington Model ERP050L Hoist would lift the slag out of the pit and them move it to the other side of the "Delta" or D Casting machine. At this point, the tub was to be switched to another crane before being moved outside for cleaning. The employee was using the hoist to lift one of the tubs out of the pit when he reached out to adjust the tub. As he did this, he brought the hoist pendant control to his abdomen with his off hand. The employee then depressed the East movement button on the pendant and at that time he felt an electrical shock and immediately collapsed onto the ground. The employee began to experience chest pain and numbness in his arm due to the shock, but he did not lose consciousness. Coworkers responded and provided first aid until the ambulance staffed by the local fire department arrived at the scene. The ambulance transported the employee to the local hospital, where he was kept overnight for evaluation.

Incident on Aug 10, 2016 (fatal): Employee is crushed while moving scrap materials

At 8:15 p.m. on August 10, 2016, an employee was moving tubs of scrap and slag. The employee pulled the tub over and dumped the scrap onto himself while attaching chains to the tabs of the lifting crane and was crushed underneath. underneath.