Duty of Care

On March 17, 2026, a worker was fatally struck by a rotating pipe stem at a New Smyrna Beach, Florida, job site while T & T Pipeline Co. Inc. employees were changing a drill bit on a horizontal directional drilling machine, according to OSHA.

In September 2026, OSHA announced a willful citation and $165,514 in proposed penalties against the Orlando-based pipeline contractor for exposing employees to struck-by hazards while working on the horizontal directional drilling machine. Reporting based on the Department of Labor release noted the company had 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference, or contest.

Horizontal directional drilling is widely used for underground pipeline and utility installation. Bit changes and stem handling place workers close to stored rotational energy if equipment is not fully stopped and controlled.

For oil and gas and pipeline crews, treat every stem rotation zone as lethal until proven stopped. Complete the JSA, confirm isolation, keep spotters and exclusion zones, and stop work if anyone steps into the bite.

• Occupational Health & Safety (OHS Online)
• Construction Owners (citing U.S. DOL)