Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck by falling pipe: At the Trans Texas Gas Corporation pipeyard in Laredo, Texas, an employee was exposed to the hazard of being struck by a falling pipe during unloading of pipe trucks. Employees are exposed to being struck by pipes rolling off of stripping which has not been equipped with chocks or blocks to prevent such roll-offs of pipes when the tie-down tension is released. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is: a.Development of a written safety program regarding the safe handling of pipes and tubular materials. b.Conducting training of drivers and other material handlers to inspect and evaluate pipes and other tubular materials for safe loading on trailers, to include: 1.Stripping installed with chocks or blocks to prevent rolloffs. %% 2.Condition of synthetics straps/belts, chains, etc., used for tie-down. 3.Recognition of improperly stripped or pyramiding loads of pipes. c.Establish and enforce a strict policy of not accepting for transport any load which has not been prepared for safe loading or unloading at its ultimate destination. d.Establish and implement a program of unannounced safety inspections to determine whether employees are adhering to such a program. Maintain records of such unannounced inspections. IN THE ALTERNATIVE: 29 CFR 1910.176(b): Storage of material shall not create a hazard. Bags, containers, bundles, etc., stored in tiers shall be stacked, blocked, interlocked and limited in height so that they are stable and secure against sliding or collapses: At the pipeyard of Trans Texas Gas Corporation in Laredo, Texas, an employee was exposed to the hazard of being struck by a pipe rolling off of the stripping.The stripping had not been equipped with chocks or blocks to prevent pipes from rolling off upon release of the tension of the tie-down straps in preparation for unloading of the pipes.ing