A Bay Saint Louis, Miss., steel pipe manufacturer has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor following a fatal workplace accident that claimed the life of a 25-year-old worker and caused life-altering injuries to a 20-year-old labourer in January 2024.
Jindal Tubular USA LLC agreed to accept citations, pay $442,815 in penalties, and implement significant safety reforms after an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revealed unsafe pipe stacking practices. The incident occurred when 2,000-pound pipes collapsed, killing one worker and leading to the amputation of both legs of another.
OSHA identified multiple violations at the company’s Bay Saint Louis facility, including three repeat violations for failing to provide machine guarding, properly inspect electrical insulating gloves, and address slipping hazards. Additionally, inspectors cited 26 serious violations, including inadequate fall protection at open pits, excessive accumulation of combustible dust, and insufficient exit labelling for fire safety.
“Jindal Tubular’s repeated failure to provide employees with a safe workplace has been truly disturbing,” said OSHA Area Office Director Courtney Bohannon in Jackson, Mississippi. “We hope this settlement signals a new willingness to make employee safety the centerpiece of its operations.”
As part of the settlement, Jindal Tubular USA will implement a series of corrective actions, including:
- Hiring a third-party safety consultant to develop and oversee a comprehensive safety program.
- Conducting monthly worksite audits and providing results to OSHA.
- Providing safety training for all stacking yard employees.
- Upgrading electrical wiring in areas prone to combustible dust accumulation.
- Employing at least one safety professional per shift who has completed a 30-hour OSHA safety course.
- Reporting work-related injuries and illnesses quarterly to OSHA for three years.
The settlement also allows OSHA personnel to inspect the facility without delay when injuries or illnesses are logged.
With the latest penalties, Jindal Tubular USA has been cited for 46 safety violations over the past five years. The company, which operates a 155-acre facility manufacturing large-diameter steel pipes, employs more than 400 workers and has been incorporated since 2014.
The case underscores the importance of adhering to workplace safety standards to prevent preventable tragedies and create safer environments for employees.