The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Plains Trucking LLC for nine safety violations following an employee fatality in March of this year. The proposed fines for these violations total $28,000.The worker was cleaning the inside of a crude oil tanker that exploded at the company’s Ross facility. The accident happened when another worker lowered a treble light into the tanker, which is not approved for use in such conditions. The second worker suffered a concussion and a head laceration.
The OSHA area director stated, “The company failed in its responsibility to train workers and evaluate the working conditions of confined spaces, which carry unique hazards, before allowing workers to enter. No job should cost a person’s life because of an employer’s failure to properly protect and train workers.”
One willful violation was cited, involving the company’s failure to develop and implement a confined space entry program. Eight serious violations were also cited for failing to evaluate the need for personal protective equipment, lack of machine guarding on pulleys and belts, failing to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program, use of electrical lighting not approved for a hazardous location, and failing to compile a list of chemicals, and provide training on those chemical hazards.
OSHA placed Plains Trucking in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which allows OSHA to perform follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law.
Pulgini & Norton, LLP attorneys have handled workers’ compensation claims for over 25 years in and around Boston and its surrounding areas. If you or a family member has been injured at work and would like to seek legal assistance, please contact us at (781) 843-2200 or (888) 344-2046 or email us.
Cited Sources:
Plains Trucking in Ross, ND, cited after worker dies while cleaning tanker; US Labor Department’s OSHA finds 9 violations during investigation: Company also placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program, osha.gov, June 24, 2013
OSHA cites company after oilfield death, The Dickinson Press, June 25, 2013