Houston Plant Cited for Failing to Protect Workers from Hazards

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Texfab Inc. with 11 alleged serious and two other-than-serious violations for exposing workers to falls and other workplace hazards at its manufacturing plant on Link Drive in Navasota. OSHA's Houston North Area Office began the investigation in March after receiving a complaint. Proposed penalties total $48,300.

The serious violations include a missing latch on a crane-lifting hook and fall hazards into a pit and into dangerous machinery. The company also failed to ensure usage of proper personal protective equipment, supply at least grade-D air in supply air respirators, equip air respirators with high-temperature or carbon-monoxide monitors, medically evaluate workers before they wear respirators, evaluate permit-required confined spaces, provide a lockout/tagout program to control energy sources, periodically inspect a gantry crane, and provide machine guarding on point of operation for all machines.

The other-than-serious violations involve failing to provide a respirator-protection program and fit-test respirators.

"Employers must recognize the hazards that exist in their workplaces and then develop safety and health procedures to protect workers on the job," said David Doucet, OSHA's area director at the Houston North Area Office.

Texfab specializes in the manufacturing of cylinders that are later manufactured into pressure vessels for the oil and gas industry. It employs about 10 workers at the Navasota location and about 70 at its Cypress facility. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

For more information, visit www.osha.gov.