The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement with a Mississippi steel pipe manufacturer known for its ongoing safety issues, addressing recent circumstances that resulted in the tragic death of a 25-year-old employee.
An investigation revealed that Jindal Tubular USA failed to implement safe procedures for the storage and stacking of pipes, leading to a devastating event in which heavy pipes fell, resulting in the death of one worker and severe injuries to a 20-year-old laborer, who tragically lost both legs.
The company, located on a 155-acre site in Bay Saint Louis and employing over 400 individuals, has been cited by OSHA for not maintaining stability and security in their stacked steel pipes, which are essential to their manufacturing and coating operations.
Inspectors found three recurring issues, which involved not providing adequate machine guarding, neglecting to periodically inspect or test electrical insulating protective gloves, and failing to address slipping hazards.
The organization faced 26 significant infractions, which involved neglecting to install guardrails or covers at open pits to safeguard workers from fall risks, permitting the buildup of combustible dust on surfaces, and not labeling exit doors to ensure safe evacuation during a fire emergency.
Recently, Jindal Tubular USA has faced scrutiny, accumulating a total of 46 safety violations over the past five years.
“Jindal Tubular’s repeated failure to provide employees with a safe workplace has been truly disturbing,” said OSHA Area Office Director Courtney Bohannon. “We hope this settlement signals a new willingness to make employee safety the centerpiece of its operations.”
In a recent development, Jindal Tubular USA has agreed to withdraw its challenge to the citations and will pay a total of $442,815 in penalties, following negotiations between OSHA and the Office of the Solicitor.