OSHA Inspection: ARMCO STEEL COMPANY LP

Issued

1991-12-30 00:00:00

Abate by

1992-01-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $2500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which
were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause
death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were
exposed to potentially toxic and/or oxygen deficient atmosphere during
the performance of welding or other activities inside open-topped
containers:
a)  On or about July 31, 1991 employees entered and performed welding
and other work inside the rotating and stationary funnel-shaped chutes abov e
the small bell of blast furnace  # 3.  During this confined space entry, th e
following necessary precautions were not taken:  (1) No oxygen readings wer e
taken inside the confined space prior to or during human occupancy; (2)
Mechanical ventilating of this confined space was not performed prior to an d
during human occupancy ; (3)  Safety harnesses and lifelines were not
attached to the employees who entered this confined space; (4)  No mechan-
ical means for hoisting employees up out of this confined space was present
(during either the July or September of 1991 entries); (5) Continuous
monitoring of the confined space for carbon monoxide levels was not per-
formed on 7-31-91; (6) No standby person remained in constant contact with
the employee inside the chute on 7-31-91; (7)  The nitrogen line to the
small bell area was not blanked off while an employee performed welding
inside the rotating chute on 7-31-91; and (8) No written permit was filled
out or issued prior to the confined space entry of 7-31-91.