OSHA Inspection: EMPIRE DETROIT STEEL

Issued

Apr 21, 1994

Abate by

May 9, 1994

Penalty

Initial $5,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
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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:
Employees were exposed to the hazard of being thrown or topped into the
cab wall and
equipment or controls in the cabs of No. 0 and 3 stripper cranes when
jarred or tipped in the
operator seat.  Among others, some feasible and useful methods to correct
these hazards would
be:
1.  Install adjustable seats in the cabs of No. 0 and 3 stripper cranes
with fastened down
bases and provide the large 18" diameter  bases on the seat base and
provide seat belts.
2.  Implement and enforce supervision to insure that cranes are operated
carefully
and
safely to avoid shock loads and jarring when handling loads with the pick
up tony
assembly with respect to the following:
a)  Proper loading of molds and ingots on cats so these items are
positioned to
allow the pick up tongs get hold securely.
b)  Use sufficient parting agent between a poured ingot and the parting
base plate.
c)  Never move the pick up tongs in any lateral direction until all the
hoist cable
slack is taken up.
d)  Avoid excessive bridge travel speeds in close proximity to other
cranes in the
same bay, for example, the melt shop has four (4) cranes; a south
stripper crane
#3, a south ladle crane, a north ladle crane and a north stripper crane
No. 0.
e)  Avoid unnecessary contact with the tongs and molds or ingots.