Southeast Services of the Treasure Coast Inc., a Vero Beach, Florida, drainpipe cleaning and maintenance company, is facing a $16,131 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fine following a 24-year-old worker’s death, the agency announced January 16.
According to OSHA, the employer could have prevented an explosion at a Port Saint Lucie worksite in June that claimed a 24-year-old worker’s life by implementing proper safety measures to address the hazards of inflatable pipe plugs.
Agency investigators determined that two employees of Southeast Services were cleaning a drainpipe at the intersection of Southwest Becker Road and Southwest Village Parkway. During the work, the pipe’s pressurized plug became over-inflated, leading to an explosion so powerful that it ejected one worker 15 feet from the storm drain, resulting in fatal injuries.
OSHA cited the Vero Beach-based employer with a serious General Duty Clause violation for failing to develop and implement procedures and train workers to install and remove pneumatic pipe plugs safely. This failure put workers at risk of being struck by dangerous equipment.
The agency informed the employer that it was feasible to correct the hazard by taking the following steps:
- Before using pneumatic plugs, ensure employees review the pneumatic plug safety and instruction manual.
- Train employees to recognize the hazards associated with placing the plugs and working near them after inflating them.
- Ensure the pressure gauge used to determine the required air pressure is calibrated before use.
- Ensure the plug is properly placed in the storm drainpipe.
- Use a properly designed blocking or bracing device to restrain any plug movement.
- Ensure employees don’t enter the danger zone in front of the storm drain opening while the plug is inflated.
“Pressurized equipment poses significant danger, and employers must put safeguards in place and take all necessary precautions to protect workers from these hazards,” Condell Eastmond, OSHA’s Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area office director, said in an agency statement. “If employers ignore critical safety measures, the consequences can be devastating, leaving an unfillable void in the lives of the families impacted by such tragedies.”
When no specific health or safety standard covers a known hazard identified during an inspection, OSHA cites employers using its authority under the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Southeast Services of the Treasure Coast Inc. is an underground utility contractor specializing in maintaining sanitary sewer and stormwater systems, according to OSHA. The company employs approximately 30 workers and serves the east coast of Florida, including Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties.
CSB releases chemical incident report
On January 14, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released a report detailing serious chemical incidents reported to the CSB since 2020.
Volume One of the Incident Reports covers 26 accidental releases in 15 states: California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. The incidents led to five fatalities, 17 serious injuries, and approximately $700 million in property damage, according to the board.
“Since the CSB’s reporting rule went into effect, the agency has received hundreds of reports on incidents involving releases of hazardous chemicals that have put communities, workers, and the environment at serious risk,” CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said in a board statement.
The CSB investigates incidents and hazards that result in, or may result in, the catastrophic release of extremely hazardous substances. The board has no enforcement authority but issues recommendations to companies, industry standard-setting groups, and federal agencies, including OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).