OSHA Inspection: NORTHWESTERN STEEL AND WIRE COMPANY

Issued

Feb 17, 1987

Abate by

Feb 20, 1987

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $810

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
to the hazards of confined spaces such as asphyxiation or loss of
consciousness or exposure to toxic air contaminants. During the period
of December 7, 1986 to December 14, 1986, the employer permitted
employees to enter the ductwork of the scrubber for No. 6 furnace, use
a diesel and a gasoline powered cat in the gas exhaust tunnel for No. 6
furnace and enter the pit on the north end of the gas exhaust tunnel for
No. 6 furnace, for the purpose of cleaning "sludge" from these areas,
without ensuring that safe entry and rescue procedures were followed in
that the employer had not developed and implemented a confined space
entry program.
Among other methods, one feasible and useful method of abating these
hazards is to establish and maintain a Confined Space Entry Program.
Such a program shall include, as a minimum, the following elements:
1) Written procedures covering a permit system. ventilation, atmospheric
testing, rescue procedures, and employee training.
2) The completion and posting of a confined space entry permit which
requires authorization and approval in writing that specifies the
location and type of work to the done and certifies that all existing
and potential hazards have been evaluated by a qualified person and
necessary protective measures have been taken to ensure the safety of
each worker, including the removal of, or safeguarding from sludge
which may fall into the area when entering pits, tunnels of ductwork
associated with pollution control, equipment on the electric
furnaces.
3) Mechanical ventilation of the confined space prior to entry and
continued ventilation to provide a safe atmosphere, when determined
necessary as described in (2) above.
4) Testing the atmosphere of the confined space prior to entry and on a
regular basis for presence of sufficient oxygen (19.5%) and absence
of hazardous levels of toxic or combustible gases or vapors, when
determined necessary as described in (2) above.
5) Emergency rescue procedures with a requirement that trained personnel
are available and are stationed outside the confined space with
proper equipment to provide for the rescue of persons entering the
space as determined necessary as described in (2) above. Such
equipment must include safety harness and life lines with provisions
for hoisting employees from the confined space. If entry is required
for rescue, the rescuing employee must be equipped with approved air
supplied respiratory equipment and other appropriate personal
protective equipment.
6) Training of any and all employees required to enter the confined
spaces. This training shall include procedures required prior to
entry and the hazards associated with work in confined spaces.

Issued

Feb 17, 1987

Abate by

Feb 20, 1987

Penalty

Initial $360 · Current $360

Issued

Feb 17, 1987

Abate by

Mar 17, 1987

Issued

Feb 17, 1987

Abate by

Mar 17, 1987

Issued

Feb 17, 1987

Abate by

Mar 17, 1987

Issued

Feb 17, 1987

Abate by

Mar 17, 1987

Issued

Feb 17, 1987

Abate by

Mar 17, 1987