OSHA Inspection: GRANITE CITY DIV. NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION

Issued

Nov 30, 1994

Abate by

Dec 6, 1995

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employmnent 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:
.....the hazard of a large unexpected release of carbon monoxide gas.  The
Bailey
Thermal Goggle Valve located on stove deck #3, Blast Furnace B which is in
line with the
Clean Gas Main does not have written standard operating procedures or safe
work practices
so that employees who are responsible for swinging/sealing the valve have
consistent work
practices to minimize or eliminate the possibility of the release of
dangerous levels of CO gas
in the work area(s) of the stove deck.
General methods of abatement applicable in these circumstances include,
but are not limited
to the following;
1) writing detailed safe work practices/standard operating procedures for
the process
of swinging/sealing the Bailey Goggle Valve.
2) conduct formal training with all handymen and whomever else is
responsible for
the safe operating/handling of the Bailey Goggle Valve and all other
employees exposed to
the hazards associated with the operation of the valve, including outside
contractors.
3) Assure that once the goggle is swung and the furnace put back on line
that the
expansion valve is properly seated.  This can be done by requiring the
handymen to
physically observe that proper sealing has occurred.
4) Install fixed CO monitors around the perimeter of the expansion valve
to assure
that if leaking does occur that all employees are alerted that this area
of the stove deck is off
limits until such time that the leak can be isolated and repaired.
5) Lock out the steam valve once the expansion valve has been properly
seated.
DISCLAIMERS:
1) The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA.
2)  The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all
cases.
3) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate
abatement method.