July 11, 2016

Oil and gas equipment manufacturer, local staffing company face
$120K in fines after OSHA finds a combined 34 safety violations
Workers exposed to unguarded machine, fall protection, confined space hazards

Employers names: Exterran Energy Solutions LP
South Texas Specialty Welders LLC

Worksite location: 2707 FM 949, Alleyton, Texas 78935

Citations issued: July 8, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Austin issued citations for two repeat, 23 serious and four other violations with a $111,000 penalty to Exterran Energy Solutions LP, and four serious violations with a $9,800 penalty to its labor broker, South Texas Specialty Welders LLC. OSHA initiated the inspection on Jan. 13, 2016, after receiving a complaint alleging unsafe working conditions. The agency issued repeat citations after the employer failed to ensure proper disposal of materials contaminated with residues from the paint booth and for not ensuring proper labeling of containers with hazardous chemicals. OSHA cited the company for the same or similar violation in November 2014, at the same Alleyton worksite.

Among the 23 serious violations, OSHA cited Exterran for failing to:

• Prevent fall hazards on scaffolding, open-sided floor edges and steel tanks.
• Provide clear instructions for locking out energy sources prior to working on industrial machines.
• Prevent material handling hazards created by forklifts, cranes.
• Inspect and test lifting devices.
• Properly guard the points of operation and rotating parts on industrial grinders and metal presses.

The agency also cited South Texas Specialty Welders, the staffing company, for failing to ensure:

• The installation of protective railings on loading docks more than 4-feet high.
• Employees received fire extinguisher training when authorized to fight fire.
• A means for quick removal for welders in confined spaces in case of an emergency.
• Employees received effective hazard communication training where hazardous chemicals are used.

Proposed Penalties: Exterran Energy Solutions faces fines totaling $111,000 while South Texas Specialty Welders LLC faces $9,800 in penalties.

Quote: "Exterran knows that safety hazards must be identified and corrected. Unfortunately, the company was complacent, and safety and health practices were not a priority at this location," said R. Casey Perkins, OSHA's area director in Austin. "Fortunately we were able to record these violations and put these employers on notice before any serious injury happened."

View citations at: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/ExterranEnergySolutionsLP_1118265.pdf,
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/ExterranEnergySolutionsLP_1118364.pdf and
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/SouthTexasSpecialtyWeldersLLC_1119704.pdf

Information: Both Exterran Energy Solutions, an oil and gas extraction equipment manufacturer, and local staffing agency South Texas Specialty Welders, have 15 business days from receipt of their citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Austin office at 512-374-0271.

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Media Contact:

Juan J. Rodríguez, 972-850-4709, rodriguez.juan@dol.gov

Release Number: 16-1421-DAL

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