Industrial accident leads to death and double leg amputation for two employees, pipe manufacturer fined $443K
An OSHA investigation has determined that Jindal Tubular USA LLC could have done more to protect an employee who suffered fatal injuries earlier this year. The company, which specializes in steel pipe manufacturing, failed to establish safe practices for storing and stacking pipes. As a result, two employees were injured when 2,000-pound pipes collapsed, leading to a 20-year-old laborer losing both legs and a 25-year-old employee losing their life.
This is not the first time the company has been cited for health and safety hazards. Over the past five years, Jindal Tubular USA has been cited for 46 OSHA safety violations.
During its most recent investigation, OSHA cited the company for three repeat violations and 26 serious violations. These violations include failing to:
- Ensure stacked pipes were stable and secure against collapse
- Provide machine guarding
- Inspect or test electrical insulating protective gloves
- Ensure guardrails or covers were in place at open pits
- Prevent the accumulation of combustible dust on surfaces
Jindal Tubular USA has entered into a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor. As part of the agreement, the company will pay $442,815 in penalties, as well as:
- Hire a consultant to develop a comprehensive safety and health program and conduct monthly worksite audits
- Provide safety training to all stacking yard employees
Upgrade electrical wiring and components in combustible dust areas - Hire a dedicated safety and health professional
- Report work-related injuries and illnesses to OSHA on a quarterly basis for a period of three years
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Area Office Director Courtney Bohannon said, “Jindal Tubular’s repeated failure to provide employees with a safe workplace has been truly disturbing. We hope this settlement signals a new willingness to make employee safety the centerpiece of its operations.”
OSHA in the news
Foundry fined $990K for exposing employees to fire, explosion, burn, and fall hazards
Frazer & Jones was cited for four willful, 13 repeat, seven serious and three other-than-serious violations.
Worker’s arm is pulled into unguarded machine, causing permanent injuries. Furniture manufacturer fined $275K.
An OSHA investigation has found that Artco-Bell Corp. could have prevented the serious injuries sustained by one of its employees.
Maintenance worker dies when machine starts up unexpectedly, tire manufacturer fined $272K
Since 2015, the facility has been inspected nine times, resulting in 52 violations.
Learn more about industrial safety
Workplace Safety Is Job One
Pulling back the curtain on how EHS leaders view their profession.
Report Questions Warehouse Worker Safety Due to Excessive Surveillance
An Oxfam report says Amazon's and Walmart's technology is harming workers.
You Knew This Job Was Dangerous When You Took It
The 2024 National Safety & Salary Survey reveals that safety leaders have a high degree of satisfaction in their profession.
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
Connect with Alexis on LinkedIn
