OSHA Inspection: LTV STEEL CO.

Issued

Mar 26, 1997

Abate by

May 28, 1997

Penalty

Initial $5,000

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:
Hazards associated with the movement of hot metal via overhead cranes
during a power failure.
(a)  In the Steel Producing Operations, four (4) overhead cranes equipped
with Cutler Hammer
manual return controllers (#2A Morgan, #3A Morgan, #11A Morgan, and #300
Alliance) were
not equipped with hoist holding brakes that applied automatically when
power was removed.
The controllers are regenerative in design and whenever the combination of
speed and load
create an "overhaul" situation, the undervoltage created at the hoist
causes the hoist to continue
its lowering motion even though the main power to the crane has been lost.
In such an overhaul
situation, the operator would need to take an action, i.e., move the
controller to the neutral
position and/or depress the magnetic disconnect which has been equipped
with an interlock to
the undervoltage relay, to cause the hoist holding brake to engage,
stopping the motion of the
hoist.
(b)  In the Direct Hot Charge Complex, four (4) overhead cranes equipped
with Hubbell spring
return controllers (#472 Alliance, #473 Alliance, #474 Alliance and #475
Alliance) were not
equipped with hoist holding brakes that applied automatically when power
was removed.  The
controllers are regenerative in design and whenever the combination of
speed and load create
an overhaul situation, the undervoltage created at the hoist causes the
hoist to continue its
lowering motion even though the main power to the crane has been lost.  In
such overhaul
situations, the operator would need to take an action, i.e., remove his
hand from the controller
and allow it to return to neutral via the spring return and/or to depress
the
magnetic disconnect
which has been equipped with an interlock to the undervoltage relay, to
cause the hoist to
engage, stopping the movement of the hoist.
Among other methods,one feasible and acceptable method to correct this
hazard is to:
1.  Provide holding brakes on crane hoists that engage automatically upon
removal or loss of
power to the crane.
2.  For cranes not equipped with spring-return controllers, provide a
device which will
disconnect all motors from the line on failure of power and will not
permit any motor to be
restarted until the controller handle is brought to the "off" position, or
a reset switch is operated.

Issued

Mar 26, 1997

Abate by

May 28, 1997

Issued

Mar 26, 1997

Abate by

May 28, 1997