The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Northwest Pipe Co. and proposed penalties totaling $197,500 for exposing employees to safety and health hazards.

OSHA citations against Portland, Ore.,-based Northwest Pipe alleged 38 serious safety violations, 15 serious health violations and two other-than-serious violations following an inspection that began Jan. 19 at the company's Houston facility. About 105 of Northwest Pipe’s 1,200 workers are located in Houston.

Serious safety violations included inadequate machine guarding and unsafely stored steel coils. Also cited as serious was the company's failure to develop and train employees in lockout/tagout procedures to ensure machinery will not start up during maintenance or repair. Additional serious violations involved overloading powered industrial trucks and cranes; failing to properly maintain equipment; and numerous electrical violations, such as damaged flexible cords and circuit breakers that were installed in damp and wet locations.

Serious health citations were issued for failure to properly label containers and dip tanks; failure to establish a written safety and health program; failure train employees to safely use hazardous chemicals; failure to provide eye wash stations where caustic materials were being used; and failure to provide ear protection for workers in high-level noise areas.

Other-than-serious citations were issued for failing to mount fire extinguishers and to provide respiratory protection equipment.

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