OSHA Fines Bristolpipeline Following Electrocution

March 27, 2001
OSHA cited Bristolpipeline Corp. and proposed penalties totaling\r\n$292,600 following an electrocution death at the company's\r\nGreensboro, Ga., plant.

OSHA cited Bristolpipeline Corp. and proposed penalties totaling $292,600 following an electrocution death at the company''s Greensboro, Ga., plant.

Just before the accident, the victim received a non-fatal shock while trying to retrieve a bucket of water from under the extruder, a machine that shapes plastic for sewer and water pipes.

A clogged pipe from the extruder drain pan was causing water to continually fill the bucket and overflow onto the floor. The worker was fatally injured on his second attempt to remove the water-filled bucket when he made electrical contact either through the water on the floor or at the extruder machine itself.

Following an inspection of the accident, OSHA cited Bristolpipeline with three willful violations, carrying proposed penalties totaling $189,000, for failure to:

  • maintain floors of work areas in a dry condition;
  • have a lockout/tagout procedure in place to ensure that machines were inoperable during maintenance and repair, and
  • properly insulate splices, joints and free ends of electrical wiring.

The agency issued willful citations in this case because the company showed "blatant disregard of OSHA regulations and indifference to worker safety," according to William Grimes, OSHA''s Atlanta-East acting area director.

OSHA alleged that, in an effort to save time and money, management allowed inadequate repairs of faulty electrical wiring and permitted employees to continue the risky practice of working in standing water around numerous electrical hazards.

"Management was aware that machine disrepair and roof leaks were causing water to drip onto machines and pool on the floor, sometimes accumulating several inches deep," said Grimes. "Workers had voiced their concerns to supervisors again and again about electrical shocks they had received. Yet, despite the company''s heightened awareness, no effort was made to abate the hazards."

Twenty-three serious citations drew additional penalties of $90,000. These included numerous electrical hazards, fall hazards, lockout/tagout deficiencies, no eye wash stations, numerous machine guarding violations and failure to protect employees from hazardous compressed air pressures.

OSHA issues a serious citation when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.

The remaining $13,600 penalty was issued for two repeat violations -- machine guarding and electrical hazards -- for which the company had been previously cited in August 2000.

Bristolpipeline, headquartered in Bristol, Ind., employs 58 of its 218 workers at the Greensboro, Ga., plant where PVC plastic sewer and water pipes are manufactured.

The company has 15 working days to contest or comply with OSHA''s citations and proposed penalties.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

Sponsored Recommendations

Committing to Safety: Why Leadership’s Role in Safety Excellence is Key

Jan. 13, 2025
Leadership has the power to transform an organization through their behavior and vision, which can result in the creation of an organizational culturethat supports safety excellence...

Speak Up! Cementing "See Something, Say Something" to Drive Safety

Jan. 13, 2025
Many organizations promote "see something, say something" to encourage their people to intervene and make work safe. But most don't go far enough to equip teams with the skills...

The Truth and Challenges of Cultivating Chronic Unease

Jan. 13, 2025
DEKRA announces its latest white paper, “The Truth and Challenges of Cultivating Chronic Unease,” as a definitive look into why being vulnerable to incidents strengthens our commitment...

Mitigating Risks: Strategies for Safeguarding Workers in Hazardous Workplaces

Jan. 13, 2025
Join our expert team in taking on the challenge to make safety part of your organization’s DNA as work, the workforce, and workplaces evolve.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!