OSHA Fines Company Following Employee’s Death

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Smith Pipe in Abilene, Texas after an employee died during an industrial accident. The two citations carry a fine totaling $14,000.An employee died when an 11,000 pound tank was being loaded onto a truck slid off and crushed him. He died of a head injury.

The local area director stated, “One (of the citations) was because the crane operator continued to move the load when visual contact with the signal person was lost. The other one was for using the crane for dragging a load sideways.”