Region 6 News Release: 13-2202-DAL
Nov. 19, 2013
Contact: Diana Petterson Juan Rodriguez
Phone: 972-850-4710 972-850-4709
Email: petterson.diana@dol.gov rodriguez.juan@dol.gov

Coastal Plating Co. in Corpus Christi cited by US Department of Labor's
OSHA with 15 serious violations after a worker was struck and killed

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Coastal Plating Co. with 16 safety violations at its Corpus Christi facility. In May, an employee learning how to operate a blast cabinet was struck by a gas compressor power cylinder when it exited a cabinet. The worker died from his injuries.

"It is the employer's responsibility to find and fix workplace safety violations and to ensure the safety of its workers. Coastal Plating Co. failed to do so and that cost a worker his life. OSHA will not tolerate such neglect," said Michael Rivera, OSHA's Corpus Christi area director.

Some of the 15 serious safety violations cited involve failing to:

• Ensure workers are protected from being struck by unsecured equipment.
• Conduct annual crane inspections.
• Inspect hooks utilized on overhead cranes.
• Ensure the use of personal protective equipment when chromium electroplating work is being done.
• Provide respiratory protection for workers overexposed to chromium.
• Provide emergency eyewash stations and showers.
• Monitor workers exposed to both lead fume dust and to guard floor openings.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

One other-than-serious safety violation was cited for failing to enforce the hazard communication program. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

In the past five years, Coastal Plating has been inspected twice. An inspection in 2008 resulted in three citations after a worker suffered a foot amputation. A 2010 complaint inspection resulted in the issuance of four citations.

The proposed penalties total $49,700. Coastal Plating has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Corpus Christi area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report 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 Corpus Christi office at 361-888-3420.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille or CD from the COAST office upon request by calling 292-693-7828 or TTY 292-693-7755.