OSHA issues fine to Dallas company after spectacular blast

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.asp?S=7777714&nav=0w0v

Associated Press - January 26, 2008 8:15 AM ET

DALLAS (AP) - The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a fined of $6,300 to a Dallas company in an acetylene gas explosion last summer that sent metal canisters flying into the air.

OSHA assessed the fine to Southwest Industrial.

Citations issued Thursday and released Friday says the company exposed workers to serious hazards that were likely to cause death or serious physical harm. That's according to a report that appeared in The Dallas Morning News today.

Bellville-based Western International Gas & Cylinders was delivering acetylene, a gas used in welding, to a supplier July 25th when a truck trailer exploded, severely burning two workers, causing more than $2.3 million in damage and sending plumes of smoke higher than some skyscrapers.

OSHA said the plant could have reduced the fire risk by putting in a sprinkler system in the loading dock. The plant wasn't required to have fire sprinklers because it was built before new fire codes took effect.