OSHA cites Vallourec Star for safety violations

YOUNGSTOWN

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Vallourec Star for 22 serious safety violations. Proposed penalties total $94,000.

The company was cited after OSHA received information that a worker had suffered severe injuries after being crushed between two machines. The machine operator suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis, Feb. 27. and has been unable to return to work. The investigation found that Youngstown steel mill workers were exposed to crushing, amputation and fall hazards.

“Manufacturers that operate dangerous machinery must be aware of the daily hazards workers face while working with this machinery. Vallourec Star did not prioritize safety,” Howard Eberts, OSHA’s area director in Cleveland, said in a statement. “No worker should be injured on the job because the company failed to provide the required protections.”

Vallourec Star produces seamless tubular products, primarily for oil and gas applications. The company has an electric steel mill and two tube rolling mills in Youngstown. A subsidiary of Vallourec USA, the company also operates facilities in Houston and Muskogee, Okla.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Request for comment was sent out to Vallourec Star this morning.